U.S. authorities have arrested a 44-year-old Iranian national at Los Angeles International Airport over allegations of trafficking weapons to Sudan on behalf of Tehran.
The arrest was confirmed by the United States Department of Justice, which said the suspect, Shamim Mafi, is facing charges related to brokering the sale of military equipment, including drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition.
According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Mafi, who resides in Woodland Hills, California, became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She was taken into custody on Saturday and could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Mafi operated alongside an unnamed accomplice through a company identified as Atlas International Business, based in Oman. Court documents indicate the company facilitated arms transactions worth more than $7 million in 2025.
Investigators further claim that Mafi helped broker a deal involving the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan’s Ministry of Defence. As part of the process, she allegedly submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to procure the weapons for onward transfer.
Mafi is expected to appear before a federal court in Los Angeles, where formal proceedings in the case will begin.
The arrest comes amid growing international concern over the flow of weapons into Sudan, where a prolonged conflict between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations has warned that Sudan is at risk of descending into full-scale famine and institutional collapse as the war enters its fourth year. UN officials have repeatedly called on foreign actors to halt the supply of arms to the warring factions, warning that external support is exacerbating the crisis.
While the UN has not officially named specific countries, various reports have linked multiple foreign interests to the conflict, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the war.
The case against Mafi is expected to draw further attention to international arms trafficking networks and the role they may be playing in sustaining conflicts in fragile regions.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and additional charges or arrests may follow as more details emerge.
