Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian woman with a U.S. green card, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, April 18, 2026. She faces serious allegations of brokering arms sales to Sudan, including a €60 million ($70 million) drone contract for the Sudanese defense ministry. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Mafi coordinated the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition produced in Iran, violating U.S. sanctions that prohibit transactions involving Iranian goods.
Court documents reveal that Mafi allegedly facilitated the travel of a Sudanese delegation to Iran, received over €6 million in payments, and issued receipts for the drone deal. In addition, she submitted a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to broker the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan's military. If convicted, Mafi could face up to 20 years in prison for her actions, which prosecutors describe as a deliberate effort to evade U.S. sanctions.
The arrest underscores the complexities of U.S.-Iran relations and the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has seen a devastating civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the past three years. The conflict has led to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Amnesty International previously found evidence of weapons manufactured in Serbia, Russia, China, Turkey and Yemen being used in Sudan.
Justin Lynch, head of Conflict Insights Group, emphasized the murky world of arms brokering, stating that such transactions often occur in an unregulated environment where corruption thrives. He noted that if the allegations against Mafi are proven true, it would highlight Sudan's desperate need for weapons amidst ongoing warfare. The arms trade is critical for non-Western countries like Sudan, which cannot easily procure military supplies through conventional means.
Sudan's relationship with Iran has fluctuated over the years, with close ties developing in the 1990s due to shared interests. However, Sudan's alignment shifted in the mid-2000s as it sought support from Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The civil war in Sudan, beginning in 2023, prompted a restoration of ties with Iran as the military-backed government sought to bolster its weapons supplies.
Mafi is scheduled to appear in court later today, Monday, April 20, 2026.
Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian woman with a U.S. green card, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday. She faces serious allegations of brokering arms sales to Sudan, including a €60 million ($70 million) drone contract for the Sudanese defense ministry. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Mafi coordinated the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition produced in Iran, violating U.S. sanctions that prohibit transactions involving Iranian goods.
Court documents reveal that Mafi allegedly facilitated the travel of a Sudanese delegation to Iran, received over €6 million in payments, and issued receipts for the drone deal. In addition, she submitted a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to broker the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan's military. If convicted, Mafi could face up to 20 years in prison for her actions, which prosecutors describe as a deliberate effort to evade U.S. sanctions.
The arrest underscores the complexities of U.S.-Iran relations and the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has seen a devastating civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the past three years. The conflict has led to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Rights group Amnesty International has previously reported on various countries supplying arms to both sides of the conflict, raising concerns about international arms control.
Justin Lynch, head of Conflict Insights Group, emphasized the murky world of arms brokering, stating that such transactions often occur in an unregulated environment where corruption thrives. He noted that if the allegations against Mafi are proven true, it would highlight Sudan's desperate need for weapons amidst ongoing warfare. The arms trade is critical for non-Western countries like Sudan, which cannot easily procure military supplies through conventional means.
Sudan's relationship with Iran has fluctuated over the years, with close ties developing in the 1990s due to shared interests. However, Sudan's alignment shifted in the mid-2000s as it sought support from Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The recent outbreak of civil war in Sudan, beginning in 2023, prompted a restoration of ties with Iran as the military-backed government sought to bolster its weapons supplies.
Mafi is scheduled to appear in court later today. The unfolding legal proceedings will likely provide further insights into the intricacies of international arms trafficking and the implications of U.S. sanctions enforcement. As the situation develops, the case could have significant ramifications for both U.S. foreign policy and the ongoing conflict in Sudan, highlighting the global stakes involved in arms trade and international relations.
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The sources also report that the Sudanese army, involved in the civil war, has been deploying sophisticated Turkish drones, with Iranian weapons playing a critical role in their 2024 offensive against the Rapid Support Forces.