Bond granted for nuclear engineer

PHOENIX, June 9 (UPI) -- Bail has been granted to an Iranian-born engineer charged with taking software from a U.S. nuclear power plant to Iran.

A federal judge in Phoenix said Friday he would allow Mohammad Alavi to post bond after U.S. prosecutors clarified that Alavi had not taken any designs or blueprints of the Palo Verde power plant.

The Arizona Republic said Saturday that Alavi allegedly took a laptop with him to Iran containing Palo Verde training software. Codes downloaded from Iran allowed him to open the software.

Federal Judge Neil Wake said the clarifications eliminate concerns Alavi would flee the country or posed a safety threat.

Avali had been held without bond since his arrest in April.