US woman charged with arms trafficking to Sudan on behalf of Iran

US Arrests Iranian National for Alleged Arms Trafficking to Sudan

A US citizen of Iranian descent, Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday and charged with brokering the sale of arms to Sudan’s Ministry of Defence. According to the US Department of Justice, Mafi allegedly trafficked drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and ammunition manufactured by Iran to Sudan.

Mafi is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, having obtained residency in 2016. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The charges were made public on Monday, with US Attorney Bill Essayli releasing details of the alleged crime.

The case involves Mafi and an unnamed coconspirator operating a company called Atlas International Business in Oman. The company received over $7 million in payments in 2025, according to court documents. Additionally, Mafi allegedly brokered the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese Ministry of Defence.

Mafi is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison. The United Nations has warned that Sudan is at risk of slipping into “full-scale famine and collapse” due to ongoing conflict between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The UN has called for foreign powers to stop fuelling the war, but has not accused specific states. The conflict has been backed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia on one side, while the United Arab Emirates denies allegations of funneling arms to the RSF, which has been accused of genocide.

Source: Al Jazeera