US authorities have arrested an Iranian woman for trafficking arms to Sudan on behalf of her country, federal prosecutors have said. Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested at Los Angeles airport on Saturday and is accused of brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said on X. The alleged sales were to Sudan's defence ministry, including a β¬60m ($70m; Β£52m) drone contract, court documents show. Mafi, who has not yet commented on the allegations, is expected to appear in court later on Monday. If convicted, she could face a jail sentence of up to 20 years. An FBI criminal complaint filed in court says Mafi coordinated a Sudanese delegation's travel to Iran, received over β¬6m in payments, and issued payment receipts for the drone deal. 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 defence ministry, it adds. Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She is accused of breaching US sanctions against Iran, which prohibit US persons from transacting or dealing in Iranian goods or services without authorisation. Court documents describe her repeated use of informal exchange entities across multiple transactions in the arms deals as a deliberate effort... to evade US sanctions. She was ready to board a flight from California to Turkey when she was arrested. Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating civil war between the army and paramilitary forces for the past three years, resulting in the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.
An Iranian Woman's Alleged Arms Trafficking to Sudan: What Happened? ππ°

An Iranian Woman's Alleged Arms Trafficking to Sudan: What Happened? ππ°
An Iranian woman, Shamim Mafi, was arrested in the US for allegedly trafficking arms to Sudan. The charges involve serious claims that could lead to a lengthy prison sentence. Here's what we know! ππ«
Shamim Mafi, 44, was detained at Los Angeles airport for allegedly brokering arms sales from Iran to Sudan, including drones and ammunition. Prosecutors say she received payments and coordinated travel for a Sudanese delegation. If convicted, she faces a potential 20-year sentence. Amid Sudan's ongoing civil war, this situation adds another complex layer to international relations.

















