Iranian and Pakistani Nationals Charged in Connection with Iran's Weapons of Mass Destruction

Washington, D.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against two Iranian citizens, brothers Shahab Mir’kazei and Yunus Mir’kazei, and one Pakistani citizen, Muhammad Pahlawan, for their alleged roles in conspiring to support Iran’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program. The charges include providing material support resulting in death and conspiring to commit violence against maritime navigation involving WMDs, also resulting in death. While Pahlawan is currently in custody awaiting trial, Shahab and Yunus remain at large.

According to the indictment, Shahab and Yunus are affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Pakistani citizen, Pahlawan, allegedly worked for the Mir’kazei brothers as the captain of a smuggling vessel, a dhow named the "Yunus," which Shahab owned. The court documents reveal that Pahlawan, in coordination with Shahab, prepared the vessel for multiple smuggling missions. Shahab allegedly paid Pahlawan in Iranian Rials through a bank account under Shahab's name, with Pahlawan distributing the funds to his family and others.

The indictment further alleges that on the night of January 11, U.S. Central Command Navy forces, including Navy SEALs and members of the U.S. Coast Guard, boarded the dhow off the coast of Somalia. Tragically, two Navy SEALs lost their lives during the operation. The U.S. boarding team encountered 14 mariners on the vessel, including Pahlawan, and discovered what is believed to be Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. This included critical components for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, such as a warhead and propulsion and guidance systems. The weaponry found on the dhow is allegedly similar to that used by Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks on merchant ships and U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Pahlawan faces additional charges for providing false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers during the boarding and for witness intimidation related to threatening one of the dhow's crewmembers.

If convicted, Shahab, Yunus, and Pahlawan face maximum penalties of life in prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy A. Edwards Jr. and Gavin R. Tisdale for the Eastern District of Virginia, along with Trial Attorney Lesley Woods of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Note: An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Middle Eastern countries in a World MapPhoto byLaura Jameson