Two men have been sentenced to prison on charges in connection with working on behalf of the government of Iran to monitor a Jewish centre in Chicago and Americans who are members of an exiled Iranian opposition group.

Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 39, a dual Iranian-US citizen, was sentenced to 38 months in prison on Wednesday by US district judge Paul Friedman in Washington after pleading guilty on 8 October to one count of conspiracy and one count of acting as an undeclared agent of the Iranian government.

Majid Ghorbani, 60, an Iranian citizen and US permanent resident living in Costa Mesa, California, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by Mr Friedman on one count of violating US sanctions by giving photographs to Doostdar that he knew Doostdar would take to Iran, according to court records.

Ghorbani was arrested in August 2018, and Doostdar that September. Both were accused of conducting surveillance and collecting information about Americans involved with the Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK), or People's Mujahideen of Iran, an Iranian dissident group that seeks regime change in Iran.

US officials said law enforcement will pursue those acting covertly to intimidate Americans.

Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Show all 23 1 /23 Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather in front of Amir Kabir University AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of the Ukraine Boeing 737 crash in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police dispersed students chanting "radical" slogans during a gathering in Tehran to honour the 176 people killed when an airliner was mistakenly shot down AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University - People hold flowers as tear gas fired by police rises Online videos purported to show that Iranian security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic's initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University AFP correspondents said hundreds of students had gathered early in the evening to pay respects to those killed in the air disaster ISNA/AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister back at police AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University A protester confronts an Iranian police officer AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120223 Iranians protest to show their sympathy with victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. Media reported that hundreds of Iranians protests in Tehran in solidarity with victims of the Ukraine plane as Iranian military released a statement claiming that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to human error. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gathe AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians light candles for victims EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120526 Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. The Iranian military released a statement on 11 January 2020 that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to 'human error.' The passemger jet en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff on 08 January 2020, all all 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard were killed. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran People burn British and Israeli flags during a protest in front of the British embassy, in Tehran. Hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protestBritish embassy protest in Tehran Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122502 Iranian hardliners shout slogans as they gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran Iranian demonstrators hold placards bearing the images of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020 following the British ambassador's arrest for allegedly attending an illegal demonstration. - Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire at a memorial for those killed when a Ukraine airliner was shot down. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) ATTA KENARE AFP via Getty Images Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans and hold up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani while burning representations of British and Israeli flags, during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122741 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west A hardline protester holds up a placard during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122743 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122745 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122786 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans while holding up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. AP

“This case illustrates Iran's targeting of Americans in the United States in order to silence those who oppose the Iranian regime or otherwise further its goals,” US assistant attorney general for national security John Demers said in a statement. “The defendants, working for Iran, gathered information on Americans that could then be used by the Iranian intelligence services to intimidate or harm them or their families."

In a statement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a Paris-based group linked to the MEK, called the defendants Iranian Intelligence Ministry agents, and said that since 2018, European countries have expelled seven people operating under diplomatic cover for Iran and arrested more than a dozen others for alleged terrorism or spying charges against dissidents.

“The arrest and sentencing of these two MOIS [Iranian Ministry of Intelligence] agents in the US is not sufficient,” said Alireza Jafarzadeh, the deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, and one of the Washington-based men Ghorbani surveilled.

Mr Jafarzadeh added: “Terrorism is a survival tool for the Iranian regime to eliminate members of its main opposition movement... The United States must dismantle the entire network of spying and terror of the Iranian regime in America.”

As part of his plea, Doostdar admitted travelling three times to the United States to meet with Ghorbani and to direct his activities on behalf of the government of Iran.

Ghorbani admitted that he was paid $2,000 (£1530) by Doostdar in late 2017 after turning over notes and photographs of demonstrators at a rally against the Iranian government on 20 September, 2017, in New York City, money that Doostdar said came from his Iranian government handler.

Ghorbani also took photos at an Iran Freedom Convention for Human Rights in the Washington DC, on 4 May, 2018, according to court documents. Doostdar admitted that he spoke with Ghorbani about how the latter could provide the information to Doostdar in Iran. Both events were supported by the Iranian opposition group.

In sentencing documents, lawyers for the two men requested leniency; they obtained sentences about half as long as the government requested.

While Doostdar admitted to targeting “the politically charged and controversial MEK, he is not a proxy for the government of Iran” and should not be sentenced “to achieve some symbolic victory in a geopolitical conflict that has now escalated to perilous levels. Doostdar is an individual and must be sentenced as such,” his attorney, Joshua Herman, wrote.

Ghorbani's attorney, assistant federal public defender Mary Petras, said her client did not attend the dissident group's events “for any nefarious purpose,” but rather at the request of its members. He did nothing to harm the group, Ms Petras said.