Charges Filed Against Pakistani Captain and Two Iranian Smugglers; Allegation: Conspiracy to Support Iran's WMD Program

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Iranian citizens named 'Shahab Mirkazayi' and 'Younes Mirkazayi' and a Pakistani citizen named 'Mohammad Pahlavan' with conspiracy to supply and support the Islamic Republic's weapons of mass destruction program. These new charges relate to a January operation that intercepted an Iranian-made weapons shipment intended for the Houthis in Yemen, during which two U.S. Navy SEALs were drowned in the Arabian Sea. The Department of Justice stated that charges have been filed against the captain of the weapon-carrying vessel and the two brothers who were supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' 'weapons of mass destruction program [of the Islamic Republic of Iran].' On Wednesday, the Department of Justice accused the two Iranian brothers of attempting to deliver missile components to the Houthis. The U.S. has repeatedly seized weapons that it claims originated from Iran and were intended for the Houthis. The U.S. and several of its allies have strengthened their military presence in the region's waters to counter the Houthis' missile attacks on commercial ships and to protect international trade, while also attempting to prevent the transfer of weapons from the Islamic Republic to the Houthi rebels. While Iranian media attempts to portray the Houthis as independent, Western experts argue that the Houthis' missile attacks are actually directed by the Islamic Republic and involve the transfer of weapons from Iran to Yemen. The U.S. has destroyed two drones belonging to the Iran-backed Houthis. A hearing was held to inform the captain of the vessel carrying missile equipment for the Houthis in Yemen of the charges against him. Four Middle Eastern nationals are being tried in the U.S. for attempting to arm the Houthis. Bloomberg reports that the Houthis are preparing for a 'long-term battle' with the U.S. in the Red Sea.