Who is Shamim Mafi? Iranian-American Woman Arrested In US For $70 Million Arms Deal For Tehran

Last Updated:April 20, 2026, 09:00 IST

US authorities arrest Iranian American Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles airport, charging her with illegally brokering arms including drones and ammunition for Iran.

As the Iran war shows no signs of easing, authorities in the United States have reportedly arrested an Iranian-American woman over alleged involvement in illegal arms deals. The arrest took place at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night, according to reports.

Who is Shamim Mafi?

The woman has been identified as Shamim Mafi, aged 44. She is a permanent US resident of Iranian origin. She has been charged by the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for carrying out arms transactions without proper legal approval.

Prosecutors allege that Mafi was involved in brokering deals on behalf of the Iranian government. These deals are said to have included armed drones, bomb fuses and ammunition.

According to the charges, the weapons were intended for use in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which began in 2023.

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