Announcing the
measures, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) said the sanctions target companies and individuals involved in
facilitating Mahan Air’s international operations and supporting Iran’s
military-linked activities.
Among those
designated is Skiez Travels and
Logistics, an India-based company accused of acting as Mahan Air’s
general sales agent (GSA) in India. Also sanctioned is Air Cargo Pro of Russia, which served as the airline’s general
sales agent in Russia. In China, the
Treasury sanctioned Shanghai Wings
International Logistics and its Managing Director Tang Xin, who also serves as Mahan
Air’s general sales agent coordinator in China. Tang Xin is also the Executive
Director and 50% owner of Shanghai
Elite International Travel, another sanctioned company representing
Mahan Air in China. According to the
Treasury Department, Tang Xin coordinated the transfer of electronic equipment
from China to Iran in support of Mahan Air’s operations.
The sanctions also target DadeNegar Startup Studio,
which US authorities describe as an IRGC-affiliated front company. The Treasury
alleged that the company operated a website to collect information on the
locations of American and Israeli military assets and received requests to
facilitate strikes against US targets in the Middle East in coordination with
the IRGC. US Treasury Secretary Scott
Bessent said the latest measures are aimed at disrupting networks that
enable Iran’s military-linked organisations to operate internationally. “Those
who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or
Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise,” Bessent said.
The sanctions
freeze any US-based assets of the designated entities and generally prohibit US
persons from engaging in transactions with them. They also expose foreign
companies dealing with the sanctioned entities to the risk of secondary
sanctions under US regulations.