Launch of Direct Flight Route by Mahan Airlines to Venezuela

An official from Iran announced the launch of a direct flight route from Tehran to Caracas, the capitals of Iran and Venezuela, by Mahan Airlines. Mahan Airlines is the first private airline in Iran, established in 1992, but the U.S. has sanctioned Mahan Air since 2011 due to its "connections with the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" and "transporting troops and weapons." France and Germany have also revoked Mahan's flight permissions for similar accusations. Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization, stated on Monday, April 8, that the first flight from Tehran to Caracas, carrying the Deputy Foreign Minister and accompanying delegation, took off at 2 a.m. today. According to him, this flight departed from Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran, and a delegation led by the Deputy CEO and several officials from Mahan was sent to negotiate with Venezuelan officials about the continuation of flights between the two countries. The report states that the non-stop flight from Tehran to Caracas will take 16 hours. Reuters also reported that Mahan Airlines is grappling with accusations such as transporting weapons and military personnel in the Middle East, in addition to U.S. sanctions, and the revocation of flight permissions in France and Germany. Iran, along with China, Russia, and Turkey, supports Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president facing an economic and political crisis. Juan Guaidó, the President of the Venezuelan Parliament, recognized by most Western countries as the interim president of Venezuela, called for Maduro's removal early last year, deeming his victory in the 2018 presidential election illegitimate. The launch of this airline's direct flight to Venezuela comes at a time when two Russian military aircraft recently landed at an airport on the outskirts of Caracas, reportedly carrying special forces units and cybersecurity personnel. Immediately, the White House warned Russia and other countries supporting Maduro about sending troops and weapons to Venezuela, stating that the U.S. government considers such actions a "direct threat" to regional security. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, also stated that "Russia must leave Venezuela." The U.S. has not yet reacted to the launch of Mahan's direct flights to Venezuela.