US authorities have arrested an Iranian woman accused of brokering weapons deals between Tehran and Sudan’s military, in a case that underscores the shadowy networks fueling the country’s ongoing war.
Shamim Mafi, 44, a US green card holder, was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday while attempting to board a flight to Turkey, according to prosecutors. She is charged with violating US sanctions by facilitating the sale of Iranian-made drones, bombs, detonators, and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan.
Federal prosecutors allege that Mafi acted as an intermediary for Sudan’s defence ministry, including helping arrange a €60 million ($70 million) drone deal. Court documents say she coordinated travel for Sudanese officials to Iran, handled more than €6 million in payments, and issued receipts tied to the transactions.
Authorities also accuse her of submitting a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to broker the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses.
Prosecutors say Mafi used informal financial networks to move funds in what they described as a deliberate effort to evade US sanctions. She is expected to appear in court and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. She has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The case highlights the complex and often opaque arms supply chains sustaining Sudan’s civil war, now entering its third year. The conflict between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces has created what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands.
Analysts say both sides rely heavily on unofficial channels to secure weapons. “This is a murky world where corruption and informal networks dominate,” said Justin Lynch of Conflict Insights Group, noting that non-Western actors often turn to intermediaries to obtain restricted military equipment.
Sudan’s ties with Iran have fluctuated over decades, but relations were restored after the war erupted in 2023 as Khartoum sought new sources of military support. Tehran has previously denied supplying weapons, even as reports have pointed to Iranian systems playing a role in recent offensives.
The arrest adds to growing scrutiny over foreign involvement in Sudan’s war, with multiple countries accused of supplying arms to both sides, further prolonging the conflict.