Iran Arms Scheme
WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the indictment of two Iranian nationals and a Pakistani individual for their alleged involvement in supporting Iran’s weapons program.
The superseding indictment, filed on Thursday, names Shahab Mir’kazei and Yunus Mir’kazei, both Iranian brothers, alongside Muhammad Pahlawan, a Pakistani national.
The charges against them include conspiring to provide material support to Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program.
The indictment comes shortly after another Pakistani national, Asif Raza Merchant, was charged in the U.S. for allegedly being involved in a plot to assassinate a U.S. politician and other officials on American soil, further complicating the legal landscape for Pakistani individuals allegedly linked to Iran.
At a press briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch addressed the issue of consular access for the indicted individuals.
She confirmed that Pakistan had been granted consular access to its citizens, including Pahlawan, who was among those captured by U.S. forces during an operation off the Somali coast.
The latest indictment includes accusations against the three men for conspiring to commit violence against maritime navigation and transport involving weapons of mass destruction, which resulted in death.
The indictment reveals that Pahlawan was allegedly involved in operating a smuggling vessel named ‘Yunus,’ owned by Shahab Mir’kazei.
The vessel was reportedly used to transport weapons from Iran, and Pahlawan allegedly received payments in Iranian Rials for his services.
The case gained attention after U.S. Central Command Navy forces and the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the dhow off the Somali coast on January 11.
During this boarding, two Navy SEALs lost their lives, and Iranian-made advanced weaponry was seized.
This weaponry included crucial components for medium-range ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, which align with recent attacks by Houthi rebel forces on merchant ships and U.S. military vessels.
Pahlawan faces additional charges for allegedly providing false information to Coast Guard officers and intimidating a crew member on the dhow.
If convicted, Pahlawan, Shahab, and Yunus could face life imprisonment, with a federal judge determining any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The indictment also highlights that an indictment is merely a formal accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Regarding Asif Merchant, the Foreign Office spokesperson indicated that Pakistan is awaiting more details from U.S. authorities to respond appropriately.
The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to protecting its citizens from threats, including those posed by Iran, but has not provided further details on discussions with Pakistani officials about the case.
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