WASHINGTON D.C. : The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on a multinational network spanning India, China, Russia and Iran, accusing the individuals and companies of helping Iran’s Mahan Air and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) evade existing restrictions.
The sanctions, announced by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target six entities and individuals alleged to have provided logistical, commercial and financial support to the sanctioned Iranian airline.
US officials have long accused Mahan Air of acting as a transport network for the IRGC-Qods Force, alleging that it has been used to move weapons, personnel and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Iran has previously rejected similar allegations.
“Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Treasury will continue to identify them, expose them, and cut them off from the US financial system.”
Firms in India, China and Russia sanctioned
The latest sanctions focus on companies that allegedly acted as General Sales Agents (GSAs) or commercial intermediaries for Mahan Air, enabling the airline to continue operating despite longstanding US sanctions.
Those sanctioned include:
Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co and Shanghai Elite International Travel Co in China, along with managing director Tang Xin. According to the Treasury, Shanghai Wings coordinated shipments of electronics from China to Iran while also supporting Mahan Air’s commercial operations.
Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited in India, which US authorities identified as Mahan Air’s principal commercial and customer support partner in the country.
Air Cargo Pro Limited in Russia, accused of providing freight-forwarding and logistics services for the Iranian airline.
The Treasury said disrupting these commercial partners is intended to weaken Mahan Air’s ability to transport cargo and passengers internationally.
Iranian company accused of supporting IRGC
The Treasury also designated DadeNegar, an Iranian company that US authorities allege functioned as a front organisation for the IRGC.
According to the US government, the company was involved in supporting IRGC intelligence activities, including gathering information on American and Israeli facilities during a period of heightened regional tensions.
The announcement comes amid continuing instability in the Middle East and follows recent attacks on commercial shipping and regional infrastructure that Washington has blamed on Iran-backed groups.
What the sanctions mean
Under the new measures, any assets belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities that fall under US jurisdiction will be frozen. American citizens and businesses are also prohibited from conducting transactions with them.
The sanctions could also have wider international consequences through so-called secondary sanctions. Foreign banks or financial institutions that knowingly facilitate transactions for the designated entities risk losing access to the US financial system, increasing pressure on global companies to sever business ties with the sanctioned network.
The latest action is part of Washington’s broader campaign to tighten economic pressure on Tehran and disrupt the international networks that US authorities say help sustain Iran’s military and regional operations.
Source : Firstpost
