U.S. federal authorities have arrested an Iranian national accused of acting as a high-level intermediary in arms deals between Tehran and General al-Burhan’s army (SAF), in a case that underscores deepening military ties between the two sides.
According to a recently unsealed criminal complaint, the suspect — identified as Shamim Mafi, 44 — was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday while preparing to board a flight to Istanbul.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Mafi coordinated the sale of Iranian-made military equipment to authorities aligned with General al-Burhan’s SAF, including armed drones, explosives, detonators, assault weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition, in violation of U.S. sanctions laws.
In a statement posted on X, a senior U.S. Justice Department official said Mafi had been arrested on charges related to arms smuggling.
If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Multi-million dollar weapons deals
Investigators say Mafi played a central role in arranging a deal worth more than $70 million for Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones for Sudan’s defense authorities.
The complaint also accuses her of facilitating the sale of 55,000 explosive detonators and multiple ammunition shipments, including 10 million rounds of Kalashnikov ammunition, as well as a proposed contract for an additional 240 million rounds.
Authorities allege that Mafi used a front company to help broker the transactions and never obtained the required U.S. licenses for dealing in Iranian defense equipment.
Links to Iranian intelligence
According to the complaint, Mafi admitted during questioning that she had communicated with an officer from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Phone records obtained through a search warrant show nearly 62 calls exchanged between Mafi and the Iranian official between December 2022 and June 2025.
U.S. investigators also say she coordinated with individuals linked to the Iranian government, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Arrest en route to Istanbul
Mafi, a legal permanent resident of the United States since 2016, was living in Woodland Hills, California, and frequently traveled to Iran and other countries, prosecutors said.
She was arrested while attempting to leave the U.S. for Türkiye, where authorities believe further evidence related to the alleged scheme may have surfaced.
The 68-page complaint alleges that Mafi conducted parts of the operation from within California, using multiple locations to facilitate the illicit network.
She is expected to appear before a U.S. district court in Los Angeles.
