Abdullah Bozkurt/Stockholm
A newly unsealed US federal indictment has printed how Turkey emerged as a essential monetary and logistical hub in a sprawling Iranian weapons-trafficking community that provided drones, ammunition and bomb elements to Sudan’s navy.
The case exposes shut hyperlinks between Turkish and Iranian protection contractors and displays as soon as once more how Turkish territory, firms and fiscal channels are being exploited to avoid global sanctions and facilitate illicit hands transfers. It additionally issues to a deeper trend of cooperation between components of Turkey’s protection sector and Iranian procurement networks.
The 33-page indictment, filed in america District Courtroom for the Central District of California on Might 1, fees Iranian nationwide Shamim Mafi, often referred to as Raheleh Mafi, with conspiring to violate US sanctions regulations by way of brokering huge hands offers involving Iran’s Islamic Innovative Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s Ministry of Protection and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and Sudanese navy entities.
Whilst the indictment specializes in sanctions violations and guns trafficking, the courtroom paperwork many times establish Turkey as a most popular operational and fiscal node utilized by the alleged conspirators to transport cash, prepare bills and facilitate delicate transactions related to Iranian navy exports.
The indictment and connected FBI affidavit divulge how banks and the company sector as neatly loosely managed foreign currency echange homes in Turkey had been used to switch price range from Sudan to entities and folks related to the Iranian regime.
The revelations enhance longstanding warnings by way of the Monetary Motion Job Drive (FATF) about Turkey’s continual shortcomings in preventing terrorism financing and illicit cash flows thru its monetary machine, in particular by the use of loosely regulated cash change homes that allegedly launder billions of bucks once a year for terrorist teams and arranged crime networks.
The indictment of Iranian nationwide Shamim Mafi filed in US federal courtroom:
FATF put Turkey on its “grey list” in 2021 over severe deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing controls. Even though Turkey was once got rid of from the listing in 2024 after taking a lot of corrective measures and pledging additional reforms, the newly disclosed US indictment means that vital vulnerabilities stay within the nation’s monetary and regulatory framework.
The indictment additionally confirms longstanding issues amongst Western intelligence and regulation enforcement businesses that Turkey has grow to be a permissive setting for sanctions evasion networks tied to Iran, Sudan and different opposed international locations.
In line with the indictment, Mafii is an Iranian nationwide who moved to Turkey a while in 2013. For her, Turkey was once no longer simply a transit level however a long-term operational base from which she cultivated industry, intelligence and procurement relationships. She later moved to america to grow to be a lawful everlasting resident dwelling in California and travelled steadily between america, Iran, Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates whilst working Atlas Global Industry LLC, an Oman-based entrance corporate allegedly used to dealer hands gross sales on behalf of Tehran.
She additionally maintained a footprint in Turkey’s protection business, forging ties with Turkish protection contractors or even registering companies in Turkey, underscoring the level to which the rustic served as each a business and logistical platform for the community’s actions.
Pictures and video despatched by way of Shamim Mafi by the use of WhatsApp on February 26, 2025, after transmitting a signed contract between Atlas World Conserving and Sudan’s Ministry of Protection, appearing the hole of a big crate full of bundles of US $100 expenses, in line with america federal indictment.
Mafi’s first husband reportedly labored for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Safety (MOIS), Tehran’s number one civilian intelligence company answerable for each home surveillance and covert overseas operations. She was once additionally stated to have maintained shut ties with senior MOIS figures. In line with the indictment her connections proved influential sufficient that an MOIS reliable organized an exemption for her son from Iran’s obligatory two-year navy carrier.
In line with the indictment Mafi was once to begin with steered to ascertain a industry in Los Angeles purportedly to earn commissions by way of serving to Iranian American citizens get to the bottom of disputes involving belongings seized by way of the Iranian executive. US investigators allege that the capital and working prices related to putting in the corporate had been financed by way of an MOIS agent, a element the FBI stated was once in keeping with Iranian intelligence directing and supporting Mafi’s actions on US soil.
Investigators stated Mafi remained in shut touch with an Iranian intelligence operative between December 2022 and January 2026, speaking thru WhatsApp and assembly in particular person on a couple of events, in line with the federal indictment.
The FBI affidavit connected to the indictment additionally printed MAFI’s political ties to Iran’s ruling status quo. In line with the record, on June 28, 2024, the secretary of the Headquarters for Ethnic, Tribal and Non secular Affairs within the presidential marketing campaign of 1 candidate presented her a place. Even though the affidavit didn’t title the candidate, the outline obviously issues to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The FBI affidavit main points how Iranian nationwide Shamim Mafi interacted with Iranian officers to acquire hands for Sudan whilst the use of Turkey as a springboard for her illicit actions:
The candidate despatched MAFI a letter in Farsi appointing her as head of the Girls’s Headquarters for Ethnic, Tribal and Non secular Affairs for Ghalibaf’s 2024 presidential marketing campaign. The appointment advised that MAFI loved the believe of senior Iranian political figures carefully aligned with the IRGC, given Ghalibaf’s lengthy occupation as a former IRGC Aerospace Drive commander, police leader and Tehran mayor.
The FBI affidavit stated MAFI’s appointment to a senior position in Ghalibaf’s presidential marketing campaign indicated that she was once depended on by way of high-ranking Iranian political figures and aligned with their ideology and insurance policies. Investigators assessed that such believe was once in keeping with MAFI performing on behalf of Iranian executive pursuits, together with within the weapons-brokering operations.
Shamim Mafi, who is claimed to have labored for Iranian intelligence products and services, maintained a lavish way of life in america whilst cultivating in depth ties in Turkey, a rustic prosecutors say she used to facilitate illicit fund transfers between Iranian and Sudanese government tied to hands procurement contracts.
US prosecutors allege that starting in a minimum of February 2024, Mafi and her pals orchestrated offers involving Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones, aerial bombs, bomb fuses, AK-47 ammunition and different navy {hardware} destined for Sudanese navy entities amid Sudan’s devastating civil battle.
The paperwork display that Turkey performed a central position no longer most effective as a transit and coordination level but additionally as a cash-clearing facility designed in particular to steer clear of detection by way of the global monetary machine.
One in particular revealing change cited by way of prosecutors concerned cost discussions for a freelance involving 240 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition valued at greater than $100 million. On October 21, 2024, Mafi allegedly suggested a Sudanese middleman to steer clear of formal banking channels and as an alternative use cash-based change methods in Turkey.
“I think you should go to the cash transfer process,” Mafi allegedly wrote in a WhatsApp message cited within the indictment. “I know it will be very sensitive. I[t] should be in small amounts. In turkey we can just accept in exchange. And it should be in cash.”
On September 2, 2024, Shamim Mafi despatched the next images appearing Iranian hands and ammunition to a consultant from the Sudanese Ministry of Protection.
The wording strongly suggests reliance on Turkey’s sprawling casual cash change sector, which has lengthy attracted scrutiny for susceptible oversight and vulnerability to cash laundering and sanctions evasion schemes.
Underneath power from the FATF, the Islamist executive of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered new reporting necessities for coins change homes so as to deal with Turkey’s longstanding shortcomings in preventing cash laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Then again, enforcement of the ones measures remained susceptible and inconsistent, with change homes proceeding to procedure transactions related to terrorist teams and arranged crime syndicates. Mafi’s alleged advice to wreck transfers into smaller quantities thru change homes in Turkey suggests she understood easy methods to circumvent regulatory safeguards and steer clear of triggering monetary pink flags.
The indictment additional alleges that bills tied to Iranian drone contracts had been routed thru Turkish change workplaces. On January 13, 2025, Mafi allegedly supplied Sudanese representatives with the touch data for a Turkish cash change area to obtain roughly $2.7 million hooked up to a freelance for Mohajer-6 armed drones. Two days later she reportedly issued a receipt confirming that almost $1 million were gained “through a Turkish money exchange” related to the drone deal.
The repeated use of Turkish change networks within the alleged conspiracy is very important as it issues to the operational application of Turkey’s loosely regulated monetary ecosystem for sanctioned actors in quest of to transport price range out of doors typical banking oversight.
The indictment additionally alleges that the conspirators deliberate to channel bills thru financial institution accounts in Turkey or the United Arab Emirates on behalf of Iran’s MODAFL, the entity overseeing Iran’s navy procurement and protection industries.
{A photograph} of an Iranian-made Quds Mohajer-6 (“M-6”) armed drone, acquired from Shamim Mafi’s telephone, was once offered as proof within the FBI affidavit.
A January 2025 modification to the drone contract reportedly said that bills could be made “to an account provided by MODAFL in the UAE or Turkey,” indicating that Iranian defense-linked entities had been the use of monetary channels in each nations to facilitate transactions tied to the guns deal. The reference additionally means that Iran maintained get entry to to banking preparations in Turkey that may be used to procedure delicate monetary transactions in spite of global sanctions and export-control restrictions.
US prosecutors additional cited proof that an organization related to Mafi in Turkey would facilitate ammunition deliveries. In August 2024 Mafi knowledgeable Sudanese representatives that 10 million rounds of ammunition “were ready” and that the transaction could be organized thru “a company in Turkey associated with defendant MAFI.”
The courtroom submitting outlines how Mafi and her pals allegedly coordinated at once with Iranian navy and protection officers, together with body of workers related to the IRGC, MODAFL, the Protection Industries Group (DIO) and the Aerospace Industries Group (AIO).
One phase of the indictment alleges that Mafi officially petitioned the IRGC’s Deputy Directorate of Readiness and Improve to authorize the export of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan. The contract required advance bills to a foreign money change in Turkey,
Probably the most vital revelations within the FBI affidavit issues the obvious involvement of a Turkish protection contractor within the broader Iranian guns procurement and export community. In line with the record, investigators found out that Shamim Mafi possessed a 352-page gross sales brochure from an unnamed “Turkish defense company,” described within the affidavit as “one of the largest all-round defence manufacturers and suppliers in Turkey.”
The catalog allegedly featured OJAN-500 aerial bombs — unguided air-dropped munitions of Iranian foundation — that prosecutors say had been being advertised for Sudan as a part of the covert hands offers orchestrated by way of Mafi and her pals. The presence of the Iranian bombs within the Turkish corporate’s promotional fabrics suggests a imaginable overlap between Turkish defense-sector intermediaries and Iranian navy procurement networks working in violation of global sanctions.
The affidavit suggests the Turkish corporate’s fabrics had been being utilized in reference to Iranian guns procurement and export negotiations, elevating questions on imaginable overlap between Turkish defense-sector intermediaries and Iran’s navy export equipment. Investigators famous that the OJAN-500 bomb was once related to Iran’s Ministry of Protection Export Middle (MINDEX) and described it as an Iranian-designed high-explosive aerial bomb meant to be used towards floor objectives together with constructions, fortifications and troop concentrations.
Some other hanging element emerged from an FBI abstract of Mafi’s December 2024 interview with US Customs officers. In line with the affidavit, Mafi stated she was once touring to Turkey to satisfy an established industry spouse hired by way of the unnamed Turkish protection contractor and claimed she had prior to now offered him to Iranian firms throughout conferences held in Iran.
Symbol from a 352-page brochure belonging to an unnamed Turkish protection contractor described within the FBI affidavit as “one of the largest all-round defence manufacturers and suppliers in Turkey,” that includes the Iranian-origin OJAN-500 unguided aerial bomb and its technical specs.
She reportedly informed investigators that she had previous labored for the Turkish businessman as an interpreter and had individually accompanied him throughout visits to Iran, the place she facilitated contacts and introductions with Iranian firms. The account means that Mafi performed an energetic middleman position linking Turkish defense-sector figures with Iranian firms tied to navy procurement and arms-related industry actions.
Maximum particularly, the affidavit states that Mafi informed investigators that “many Turkish defense firms acquired their technology from Iran, purchasing Iranian military equipment and then reverse-engineering it for mass production.” If corroborated, the declare will have far-reaching implications, suggesting that Iranian navy generation could have discovered its method into segments of Turkey’s protection manufacturing chain in spite of global sanctions and export restrictions.
The case sheds mild at the more and more subtle strategies utilized by Iranian procurement and hands trafficking networks to take advantage of regional jurisdictions that care for in depth business ties with Tehran whilst additionally holding family members with Western nations.
Turkey occupies a in particular strategic place in that ecosystem. In spite of being a NATO member, the Erdogan executive has deepened financial, political and intelligence ties with Iran within the closing decade whilst resisting stricter enforcement of Western sanctions regimes.
Turkish banks, gold buyers, change workplaces and logistics firms have many times surfaced in main sanctions evasion investigations lately. Essentially the most infamous instance was once the multibillion-dollar Iran sanctions-busting operation run thru Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank, which US prosecutors stated helped Tehran secretly transfer billions of bucks in oil income thru fraudulent gold and meals transactions.
The newest indictment means that an identical vulnerabilities live on in Turkey’s monetary and business methods, in particular thru casual change mechanisms that allow huge coins actions with restricted transparency.
The case additionally raises broader geopolitical issues since the alleged Iranian hands shipments had been meant for Sudan’s navy throughout an energetic civil struggle that has devastated the rustic and brought about one of the crucial international’s worst humanitarian crises.
In line with prosecutors Mafi admitted throughout an April 18, 2026, FBI interview at Los Angeles Global Airport that she knew her actions violated US sanctions on Iran.
The indictment seeks prison forfeiture of belongings allegedly derived from the scheme and costs Mafi with conspiracy, sanctions violations and helping and abetting offenses below the Global Emergency Financial Powers Act (IEEPA).
Because the case strikes ahead, further co-conspirators founded in Turkey may probably face indictment as neatly, or prosecutors would possibly a minimum of divulge the identities of the Turkish entities and people who allegedly labored with Mafi in facilitating the procurement, financing and switch of Iranian guns methods and military-related elements.
The case is prone to accentuate scrutiny on Turkey’s position as a permissive jurisdiction for sanctions evasion, illicit finance and covert procurement networks related to Iran’s military-industrial advanced. As Western governments tighten enforcement towards Iranian guns proliferation, Turkish monetary and business channels would possibly more and more come below the microscope of US and Ecu investigators.
