US Captain Sentenced for Trafficking Iranian Arms to Houthi Rebels

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A recent publication by teh US Justice Department reveals that a federal jury has found a 49-year-old Pakistani man, Pahlawan, guilty of smuggling advanced Iranian weapons intended for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The case also highlighted alarming threats he made against his own crew during these illicit operations.

On January 11, 2024, U.S.Navy and Coast Guard forces intercepted an unregistered dhow in the Arabian Sea near somalia. This operation involved personnel from the USS Lewis B. Puller, including elite Navy SEALs and members of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team East.

The vessel carried 14 individuals, with Pahlawan serving as captain. A thorough search uncovered various Iranian-made armaments such as ballistic missile components and anti-ship cruise missile parts—items that closely resemble those used by Houthis in their assaults on commercial vessels and U.S. military ships following significant events like the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

During this boarding process, Pahlawan was accused of deceiving U.S. officials and coercing his crew into lying about their activities while also threatening them and their families if they did not comply with his orders. Despite pleading not guilty, prosecutors argued that he was deeply involved in a larger smuggling network responsible for multiple arms shipments.

this smuggling ring is believed to have been orchestrated by two Iranian brothers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Shahab and Yunus Mir’kazei. Between August 2023 and January 2024,Pahlawan undertook several trips transporting weapons from Iran to Somalia before transferring them at sea under cover of darkness to other vessels bound for Yemen.

Evidence presented indicated that Pahlawan collaborated closely with Shahab and Yunus—preparing boats specifically designed for these missions while receiving detailed instructions on transfer locations along with payments for each trip.In an unexpected twist during proceedings, it came to light that Iranian authorities had detained Pahlawan along with some crew members back in December 2023 after they returned from another smuggling venture but later released them; he then resumed his illegal activities until being caught by U.S. forces in January.

Tragically, during this operation in January 2024, two Navy SEALs went missing amid rough seas; they are now presumed dead.

The jury ultimately convicted Pahlawan on multiple counts including:

– Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists
– Assisting Iran’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) initiatives
– Supporting IRGC’s WMD programs
– Transporting explosives intended for use by Houthis
– Threatening crew members

His sentencing is set for September 22, 2025; many charges could lead up to a maximum penalty of two decades behind bars depending on federal guidelines reviewed by a district judge afterward.