Argentina to Deliver 'Iran-Related' Seized Aircraft to the U.S.

A federal court in Argentina has approved the delivery of a grounded Venezuelan aircraft to the United States after a lengthy judicial and diplomatic process. The Argentine Ministry of Justice announced on Wednesday, January 3, that Judge Federico Villena issued the order to transfer the aircraft to the U.S. This Boeing 747 cargo plane belongs to the Venezuelan company 'Emtrasur,' which purchased it from the Iranian company 'Mahan Air' two years ago. This airline is linked to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the U.S. has classified as a terrorist organization. The aircraft entered Argentina from Mexico on June 6 last year and attempted to fly to Uruguay two days later, but Uruguay denied it entry, forcing it to return to Argentina. Voice of America reported last year that Esteban Aquino, head of Paraguay's National Intelligence Secretariat, stated that his country, in cooperation with Argentina, found evidence identifying the crew of the seized Mahan aircraft at Buenos Aires airport, indicating that pilot Gholamreza Ghasemi is a member of the IRGC's Quds Force. Judge Federico Villena also requested the U.S. intelligence agency to provide information necessary to identify pilot Gholamreza Ghasemi and any evidence of his connection to the Quds Force through the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following a request from the U.S. and complaints from two Jewish organizations in Argentina, the aircraft was seized at Buenos Aires airport. Caracas and Tehran have protested the seizure, with Venezuela describing Argentina's new decision to transfer the aircraft to the U.S. as 'theft.' According to AFP sources from the Argentine Ministry of Justice, Judge Federico Villena confirmed that all judges in previous rulings decided that the aircraft should go to the United States. The U.S. has sanctioned several individuals linked to the Quds Force and Palestinian militia groups. Britain is set to implement new sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The European Union has sanctioned six individuals and five entities related to the Islamic Republic's drone assistance to Russia. Venezuela's oil exports have increased following a reduction in U.S. sanctions in 2023.