The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions Thursday against individuals and entities connected to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline that Washington and the European Union have designated for its connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"Although Mahan Air presents itself as a civilian carrier, it has long played a central role in enabling the IRGC, providing travel services for IRGC‑Qods Force personnel, facilitating military training, and supporting Iran's procurement and transport of unmanned aerial vehicle systems and weapons," The Treasury said.
The sanctions targeted several general sales agents for Mahan Air, third-party companies that provide airlines with services including sales, customer support, freight coordination and other commercial assistance.
Sanctioned entities included Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co., based in China, which the Treasury said assisted in coordinating shipments of electronics from China to Iran. The company's managing director, Tang Xin, was also designated. Tang holds an executive director position and part-ownership stake in Shanghai Elite International Travel Co., which was also sanctioned.
India-based Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited and Russia-based Air Cargo Pro Limited were sanctioned for serving as general sales agents for Mahan Air in their respective countries.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: "Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise. Treasury will continue to identify them, expose them, and cut them off from the U.S. financial system."
The Treasury also sanctioned DadeNegar Startup Studio, described as an IRGC-linked front company that allegedly sought information on the locations of U.S. And Israeli equipment to support the IRGC's targeting operations.