An Iranian Professor who was held by US authorities for 16 months over claims he tried to illegally export high-tech lab equipment is spearheading an Omani road safety initiative.
Mojtaba Atarodi, an assistant professor at the prestigious Sharif University in Tehran and microchip expert, and Anwaar Majan Investment and Development have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create “new traffic safety technology”, the Times of Oman reported on Sunday.
Atarodi was released by the US in April this year – 16 months after he was first detained in LA in December 2011.
According to media reports at the time, Atarodi, 55, was arrested when he arrived at LA Airport. He was later held in a federal facility outside San Francisco before eventually being placed on house arrest.
The US alleged he had violated export laws by purchasing high-tech American laboratory equipment. It was feared the equipment was to be used for military purposes.
The university and Atarodi strongly denied this, saying he had never been involved in military-related research and rejected allegations he was involved in weapons development.
“My academic and research activity as a Professor in Electrical Engineering department at Sharif University has no association whatsoever with non-consumer and government uses,” he previously told Associated Press.
Article continued on next page…
After being released in April, Atarodi first travelled to Oman, a country said to enjoy good relations with both Washington and Tehran.
On Monday it emerged he had signed the MoU, which is part of an array of road safety initiatives that Oman hopes will curb its road toll of 1,100 deaths last year.
The MoU, facilitated by the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Paiped), will be for research to develop a project related to road safety.
In particular, it will focus on a smart device that can be installed in cars and is designed specifically to reduce road traffic accidents.
“A case in point is that it will alert the driver if he falls asleep or if there is any blind spot,” Atarodi was quoted as telling the Times of Oman.
“I am pleased about the idea that technology can make our lives and that of future generations better. This device addresses the very serious issue of road traffic safety in Oman and has the potential to save lives each and every day.”
The MoU stipulates that the system will be developed in Oman’s Science and Technology Park – a research initiative that will add significant value to Oman’s growing science and research community.
Follow us on
