NEW YORK – A naturalized U.S. citizen accused of helping to lead an Iranian terrorist group must face trial on a charge of providing material support to terrorism, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan denied a defense motion to dismiss the case against Zeinab Taleb-Jedi, who was arrested in 2006 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecuting her violated Taleb-Jedi's civil rights.

They said Taleb-Jedi was never involved in violence and that the group, the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, is backed by some U.S. military officers and politicians because it advocates the overthrow of the Iranian government.

The judge, saying foreign relations “during a time of war are not black and white,” wrote: “There is nothing outrageous about giving military support to certain elements of the PMOI while at the same time prosecuting an allegedly high-ranking member for violating the material support statute.”

The judge, however, cautioned that if evidence at trial showed Taleb-Jedi participated in the PMOI “through mere membership and chanting at meetings, it may well be insufficient to reach a jury or sustain a guilty verdict.”

PMOI was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State in 1997, the year Taleb-Jedi learned her husband had died in a bus bombing in Iraq outside Baghdad. Prosecutors say Taleb-Jedi, 52, became an English teacher in 1999 at the organization's Iraq headquarters, Camp Ashraf.

During the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2004, U.S. soldiers seized tanks, anti-aircraft weapons, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and plastic explosives at the camp. Prosecutors allege that Taleb-Jedi told FBI agents at the time she “wholeheartedly” supported the group and that two informants have since identified her as a member of a leadership council.

Taleb-Jedi's lawyer predicted the allegations won't hold up at trial.

“Real questions remain about what the government says Ms. Taleb-Jedi actually did, and we look forward to a jury hearing the whole story,” attorney Justine Harris said.

Prosecutors did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Thursday.

If convicted, Taleb-Jedi faces up to 15 years in prison.