Implementation of Final Judgment to Seize Mahan Air's Boeing 747; Confiscated Aircraft Transferred to U.S.; Islamic Republic's Reaction: 'Illegal'

Updated|On Monday, February 12, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the implementation of a final judgment to seize a Boeing 747 cargo plane previously owned by Mahan Air, which is affiliated with the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In response to this action, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry described it as 'unjust seizure' and 'a violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.' According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Argentine government on Sunday, February 11, transferred the physical custody of the aircraft to the United States, following a final judgment issued by a Washington court on May 2, 2023, and the plane has now arrived in southern Florida. Matthew Olsen, Deputy Attorney General for National Security, stated: 'This U.S.-made aircraft was transferred by a sanctioned Iranian airline in a transaction that violated U.S. export control laws and directly benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which itself is a terrorist organization.' He added: 'The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring the full enforcement of U.S. laws to prevent hostile state actors from accessing the tools [they need] to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security.' Matthew Axelrod, Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, also remarked: 'Mahan Air, known for transporting weapons and fighters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, violated our export restrictions by selling this aircraft to a Venezuelan air cargo company. This aircraft is now U.S. government property.' According to Axelrod, the arrival of this seized aircraft in the U.S. is 'a powerful example of our relentless efforts to prevent Iran and its proxy groups from exploiting and profiting from U.S. technology.' Additionally, Larissa Nap, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch, called the transfer of this aircraft to the U.S. 'the final step in a long process to bring this case to a correct conclusion.' Court documents reveal that the captain of this aircraft was a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and also a shareholder and board member of the sanctioned 'Qeshm Fars Air' company affiliated with the Quds Force. The Argentine Department of Justice issued the order to deliver this aircraft to the United States on Wednesday, January 3. Also see: Argentina hands over 'Iran-related' seized aircraft to the U.S. This Boeing 747 cargo plane belonged to the Venezuelan company 'Emtrasur,' which had purchased it from the Iranian company 'Mahan Air' two years ago. This airline is affiliated with the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, which the United States has classified as a terrorist organization. The aircraft entered Argentina from Mexico on June 6 of last year and flew to Uruguay two days later, but Uruguay denied entry to this aircraft, forcing it to return to Argentina. Voice of America reported last year that Esteban Aquino, director of Paraguay's National Intelligence Secretariat, stated: 'His country, in cooperation with Argentina, found evidence to identify the crew of the seized Mahan aircraft at Buenos Aires airport, indicating that Gholamreza Qasemi, the pilot of this flight, is a member of the Quds Force.' Judge Federico Vilna also requested the necessary information from U.S. intelligence to identify pilot Gholamreza Qasemi and any potential evidence of his connection to the Quds Force 'the extraterritorial branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' through the Argentine Foreign Ministry. Argentina, following the request from the U.S. and the complaint from two Jewish organizations in Argentina, seized this aircraft at Buenos Aires airport. Caracas and Tehran protested the seizure of this aircraft, with Venezuela describing Argentina's decision to hand over the aircraft to the United States as 'theft.' Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry, on Tuesday morning labeled the U.S. action as 'illegal' and announced Iran's firm support for Venezuela's diplomatic efforts to 'restore ownership' of this aircraft. Mahan Air has been under U.S. sanctions for several years. The crew of the seized Iranian aircraft has entered Venezuela. The U.S. requested the seizure of the Venezuelan Boeing in Argentina. The Argentine chargé d'affaires in Tehran was summoned regarding the seized aircraft. Opinion | Iran and the suspicious aircraft in Argentina. The Venezuelan Boeing 747 is seized and in limbo. Argentina denied the connection between the crew of the Venezuelan aircraft and the Quds Force. Paraguay: The pilot of the seized Mahan aircraft in Argentina is a member of the IRGC. An Argentine parliament member stated that the seized aircraft had an 'intelligence mission.' Argentina: One of the crew members of the seized aircraft is related to Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's Minister of Interior. Argentina seized an aircraft and the passports of its five Iranian crew members.