US Arrests Iranian Resident for Brokering Weapons to Sudan

Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night, accusing her of brokering the sale of Iranian-made weapons to Sudan in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Mafi, who resides in Woodland Hills, California, faces charges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for her alleged role in facilitating deals involving drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition produced by Iran. According to a criminal complaint unsealed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, the transactions were conducted on behalf of the Iranian government and targeted Sudan's Ministry of Defense. Prosecutors detailed a contract valued at more than $70 million for Mohajer-6 armed drones, along with the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses, 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a proposed deal for 240 million additional rounds. Officials stated that Mafi lacked the required U.S. licenses to broker such defense articles or transactions involving Iranian goods.

The arrest occurred as Mafi prepared to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey....