Iranian Businesswoman On Green Card Arrested At Lax For Allegedly Selling Arms For The Regime

An Iranian businesswoman surviving successful nan U.S. connected a green card has been arrested successful Los Angeles for allegedly brokering arms deals for Tehran.

Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested connected Saturday nighttime astatine Los Angeles International Airport. She has been accused of brokering deals for drones, explosives, and millions of rounds of ammunition, each of which were to beryllium sold to Sudan, according to nan U.S. Attorney for nan Central District of California.

“She is charged pinch a usurpation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering nan waste of drones, bombs, explosive fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said successful a statement.

Mafi became a imperishable resident successful nan U.S. successful 2016. She near Iran successful 2013 and allegedly utilized an Oman-registered institution to agent nan arms deals, according to nan New York Post.

One of nan contracts Mafi was allegedly brokering progressive $70 cardinal for Iranian-made Mojajer-6 equipped drones, nan Post reports.

Phone records show that Mafi had nonstop interaction pinch Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security betwixt December 2022 and June 2025, according to reports.

Mafi has besides been accused of utilizing her company, Atlas International Business, to usage channels successful Turkey and nan United Arab Emirates to debar discovery by nan U.S.

She has denied having immoderate engagement pinch Iran's MOIS and besides denied being directed to behaviour business connected behalf of Tehran, nan Post reports.

The drones and astir 55,000 explosive fuses Mafi was allegedly preparing for waste were meant for nan Sudanese Ministry of Defense. Sudan has been successful nan grip of a civilian warfare since 2023.

In 2024, Iranian subject officials speaking connected information of anonymity told Reuters that drones and unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured wrong its borders were instrumental successful turning nan tide of nan civilian warfare successful favour of nan Sudanese military.

UN fact-finders reported that caller wide killings successful Darfur person nan "hallmarks of genocide." The Rapid Support Forces — nan group opposing nan Sudanese subject successful nan civilian warfare — person besides been accused of genocide by nan U.S. government.

In nan last days of nan Joe Biden management successful 2025, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused nan RSF of acts of genocide.

"Those aforesaid militias person targeted fleeing civilians, murdering guiltless group escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies," he wrote astatine nan time. "Based connected this information, I person now concluded that members of nan RSF and allied militias person committed genocide successful Sudan."

Mafi is accused of violating nan Conspiracy to Violate nan International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Her first tribunal quality is scheduled for Monday day successful LA.

If she is convicted, she faces a statutory maximum condemnation of 20 years successful national prison.