US Sanctions Against Mahan Airlines 'Remain in Effect'

John Kirby, spokesperson for the US State Department, responded to a report regarding flights by the IRGC-supported airline to European and Asian countries, stating that US sanctions against this company remain in force. The Associated Press recently reported that Mahan Airlines, a company affiliated with the IRGC, currently operates commercial flights to more than ten European and Asian countries. The shareholder of Mahan Air, which is the second largest airline in Iran, is the 'Mowli al-Mowahhidin' Institute, established in 1987. This institute is involved in creating, launching, or managing several of the largest commercial areas, hotels, and automotive factories. In October 2011, a day after US judicial officials accused Iran of involvement in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, the US Treasury Department announced that it had placed Mahan Air on its sanctions list for providing services to the IRGC's Quds Force. From the perspective of the US Treasury, Mahan has very close cooperation with the IRGC, especially its overseas branch, the Quds Force. The US claims that the result of these close collaborations includes, for example, the transfer of weapons and personnel to countries like Syria or Lebanon. Mahan Air has been on the US sanctions list since 2011. However, Washington went beyond sanctioning Mahan itself and, for instance, two years later, sanctioned 19 individuals and companies accused of 'intermediating' for it. In the same year, before the so-called P5+1 countries reached a nuclear agreement, and when Mahan was placed on the US sanctions list, the CEO of the company stated, 'No changes have been made to Mahan's system, and flights continue as before [to Europe and Saudi Arabia].' These statements have not been independently verified. The Associated Press, citing an unnamed US Treasury official, reported that the US has been trying to encourage 15 countries to cooperate with Washington in countering Mahan's financial network. Despite the lifting of nuclear sanctions, the US has maintained sanctions related to missile programs, accusations of supporting terrorism, money laundering, or human rights violations concerning Iran, which include the definitions of Mahan's sanctions. The US Treasury official told the Associated Press that these countries are resisting maintaining the remaining sanctions against Mahan. John Kirby, the US State Department spokesperson, also stated in his press conference, 'I am aware of the situation and the decision made by the European Union.' According to Mr. Kirby, the EU's decision and its rationale pertain to the EU itself, but 'I assure you that our sanctions against Mahan continue, and I know there is no intention to change that.' The US State Department spokesperson implicitly confirmed discussions on this matter with Washington's European allies but stated that these negotiations are kept confidential. Kirby emphasized that the US remains concerned about Mahan Airlines' activities, and this concern is the reason for maintaining the sanctions.