• Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national, arrested for allegedly trafficking arms to Sudan.
• Charges include brokering deals for drones and ammunition on behalf of Iran.
• UN warns Sudan faces severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict.
• US authorities allege Mafi evaded sanctions in her arms dealings.
• If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday for allegedly trafficking arms to Sudan on behalf of the Iranian government. Mafi faces charges of "brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan," according to South China Morning Post, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

The alleged arms deals reportedly involve Sudan’s Ministry of Defence, including a €60 million ($70 million) contract for drones. Mafi is accused of facilitating the transactions, allegedly coordinating travel for a Sudanese delegation to Iran, and collecting payments exceeding €6 million, as detailed in court documents, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.

The conflict in Sudan has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with millions displaced and facing dire conditions. The United Nations warns that Sudan is at risk of “full-scale famine and collapse” due to the ongoing war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

Mafi is also accused of breaching US sanctions against Iran, which prohibit US entities from dealing with Iranian arms. Her dealings reportedly utilized informal exchange methods to evade these sanctions, with a criminal complaint indicating that she was prepared to board a flight from California to Turkey when arrested, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.