Iranian-American Woman Charged in $70M Arms Deal for Tehran

Shamim Mafi arrested at LA airport for allegedly brokering illegal weapons shipments to Iran

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:06pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a disassembled drone component, its metallic parts and wiring lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating the investigation into an illegal arms deal.A federal investigation into an alleged $70 million arms deal exposes the high-stakes world of sanctions evasion and the illicit trade in military technology.Los Angeles Today

Shamim Mafi, an Iranian-American woman, has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and charged with illegally brokering a $70 million arms deal to send drones, ammunition, and other military equipment to Iran.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to crack down on sanctions evasion and the illegal export of sensitive military technology to Iran, which remains a top national security concern.

The details

According to authorities, Mafi used her status as a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen to facilitate the purchase and shipment of the restricted military items from the U.S. to Iran, circumventing sanctions. The alleged arms deal included drones, ammunition, and other equipment.

  • Mafi was arrested on April 18, 2026 at Los Angeles International Airport.

The players

Shamim Mafi

An Iranian-American woman charged with illegally brokering a $70 million arms deal to send drones, ammunition, and other military equipment from the U.S. to Iran.

U.S. Authorities

Law enforcement officials who arrested Mafi at the Los Angeles airport and charged her with violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.

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What they’re saying

“We will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to evade our sanctions and export controls to support hostile regimes like Iran.”

— U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada

What’s next

Mafi is expected to appear in federal court in the coming days to face charges related to the alleged arms deal.

The takeaway

This case underscores the U.S. government's ongoing crackdown on sanctions evasion and the illegal export of sensitive military technology, which remains a top national security priority when it comes to Iran.