U.S. targets Mideast airlines for selling airbus jets to Iran

Tehran, May 21, IRNA – The U.S. moved against aviation companies based in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates for selling Airbus aircraft and spare parts to Iran’s Mahan Air in contravention of international sanctions. The Treasury Department designated Iraq-based Al-Naser Airlines and Sky Blue Bird Aviation, owned by Syrian businessman Issam Shammout, as sanctions violators. The order blocks property owned by the companies that’s under U.S. jurisdiction, and prevents American citizens doing business with them, Bloomberg reported. Sanctions imposed by the U.S., European Union and United Nations over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program remain in place as Iran and world powers negotiate a deal that would phase out the curbs. In return, Iran would scale back its program and allow greater inspection of contentious sites linked to possible atomic weapons research, Bloomberg said. Negotiators set a June 30 deadline for an agreement to end a decade-long standoff. The Treasury sanctioned Mahan Air in Oct. 2011 accusing it of providing financial and technological support for Iran’s Qods Force. “We will continue to actively counter Iranian sanctions evasion, whether in support of terrorist entities or other sanctioned parties,” said Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J. Szubin. “We will not hesitate to sanction those who help in these endeavors.” In early May this year, Al-Naser Airlines transferred at least eight Airbus A340 and one Airbus A320 aircraft to Mahan Air, the Treasury said in a statement. Al-Naser had acted as a front to evade safeguards put in place by European aircraft vendors. Mahan Air paid tens of millions of dollars each for the planes, the Treasury said.