The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted two Iranians and a Pakistani national for allegedly providing material support to Tehran’s weapons programme. The indictment, filed on Thursday, charged Shahab Mir’kazei, Yunus Mir’kazei, and Muhammad Pahlawan for conspiring to provide material support to Iran’s weapons of mass destruction programme.
Another Pakistani national, Asif Raza Merchant, was also charged by the DOJ for allegedly plotting to assassinate a US politician. The Pakistan Foreign Office addressed the issue during a press briefing, confirming consular access was provided to the indicted individuals.
The indictment also accused the men of committing violence against maritime navigation. Pahlawan is in US custody awaiting trial, while Shahab and Yunus are at large. The Mir’kazei brothers were said to work for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with Pahlawan collaborating with them for smuggling voyages.
On January 11, US forces boarded a vessel off Somalia, discovering Iranian-made weaponry. Pahlawan is charged with providing false information and faces life imprisonment if convicted. The case continues to develop, with the US State Department reaffirming commitment to safeguarding citizens from threats.
(Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2024)