The Department of Justice has indicted Iranian and Pakistani nationals for allegedly giving material support to terrorists.
Pahlawan was the captain of the smuggling vessel Yunus, which personnel from U.S. Central Command and Navy SEALs intercepted.
The U.S. forces discovered “Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry, including a warhead and propulsion and guidance components for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles,” according to the indictment.
Pahlawan allegedly threatened crew members into lying to the U.S. military personnel, according to the indictment.
Two Navy SEALs died in the operation.
The Iranian and Pakistani nationals smuggled weapons from Iran to the Houthi terror group in Yemen numerous times, according to the indictment.
Pahlawan commanded the trips, which were funded by and coordinated with the Mirkazei brothers.
During the January voyage, Pahlawan went from Iran toward the Somali coast with Iranian weaponry—only to be thwarted by the United States.
The charges are conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists resulting in death, participating in weapons of mass destruction, threats to the United States, providing material support or resources to terrorists resulting in death, and conspiring to commit violence against maritime navigation and maritime transport involving weapons of mass destruction resulting in death.
Other charges include committing violence against maritime navigation and maritime transport involving weapons of mass destruction resulting in death, witness tampering through intimidation or threat, and providing false information to a federal law enforcement officer during the boarding of a vessel.
If convicted, the three defendants, who have yet to be apprehended and whose whereabouts are publicly unknown, face life in prison. There is no parole in the federal justice system.
Merchant was thwarted by undercover U.S. law enforcement personnel and arrested on July 12.
