In response to a new wave of sanctions imposed on several Iranian airlines, including Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha Airlines, the Iranian regime has displayed a level of panic and confusion not seen in previous sanctions episodes.
Shortly after the announcement of these sanctions, the Iranian regime revealed it would halt flights to Europe, dealing a significant blow to the nation’s air travel industry. According to ISNA, on October 15, 2024, the head of the Iranian Airlines Association confirmed this move, stating: “With European sanctions in place, we will no longer have direct flights to European countries. All Iran Air flights to European destinations have been canceled.”
#Iran News:
Iranian Resistance Exposes Iran Air’s Involvement in Weapon Transfers to #Hezbollahhttps://t.co/OGZH8zofDD— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 13, 2024
Masoud Pezeshkian, the regime’s President, also supported the decision, explaining that Iranian planes faced potential risks if they continued to fly to Europe. “If our planes fly to European countries, either they won’t be allowed to land, or if they do, the planes will be seized, preventing any further flights,” Pezeshkian remarked.
Some state-run media outlets have drawn attention to the broad scope of these sanctions. They argue that Western countries are intensifying their pressure on Iran over the nation’s missile programs and its alleged involvement in the Ukraine war. A report in the state-run Siasat-e Rouz newspaper on October 17, 2024, stated: “In recent days, Western countries, particularly the European Union and the United Kingdom, have taken coordinated action against Iran by imposing sanctions on our airlines, citing Iranian missile transfers to Russia during the Ukraine war. Furthermore, the U.K., Australia, and the U.S. Treasury Department have emphasized sanctions on individuals and companies linked to Iran’s missile and regional activities”
In response to these developments, Kayhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, issued a fierce rebuttal. It warned of retaliation, including closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes. On October 16, 2024, Kayhan wrote: “Europe, by imposing a new round of sanctions under the baseless pretext of Iranian missile shipments to Russia, has chosen confrontation over cooperation with Iran. Europe should be prepared to face the consequences of this decision. For Iran, it is a great dishonor that the illegitimate leaders of European countries and their Israeli allies impose air travel sanctions on us without facing any regretful response”.
The internal disarray and the conflicting responses within the Iranian regime’s ruling factions underscore the severity of the current sanctions regime. The Iranian regime’s mounting isolation, coupled with widespread sanctions on critical sectors, has placed the regime under unprecedented pressure. This has also drawn attention to long-standing calls from the Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), for comprehensive sanctions on the regime. The NCRI has repeatedly highlighted the necessity of cutting off the regime’s access to financial and logistical resources, especially given the West’s inconsistent approach to sanctioning the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has long been involved in acts of terrorism and destabilization efforts.
Once again, I call upon the international community, particularly the European Union, to adopt a firm stance toward the Iranian regime—essential for achieving peace and stability both regionally and globally. Such a policy should encompass the following:
-Designating the clerical… pic.twitter.com/m48KyHq2d4— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 14, 2024
It is important to note that Iran Air, one of the airlines sanctioned, has faced international scrutiny for its ties to the IRGC. A report published by the German newspaper Die Welt on April 4, 2024, revealed new information from the NCRI, arguing that IranAir is not merely a commercial airline but is directly involved in advancing the regime’s nefarious activities. The airline has allegedly been used for covert operations, including the 1990 assassination of Dr. Kazem Rajavi, the representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Switzerland. According to Die Welt, “IranAir delayed one of its flights to allow the operation’s commanders to board and fly from Geneva to Tehran after the assassination.” The NCRI also asserts that Iran Air was involved in a foiled terror plot in Paris in 2018, targeting an opposition gathering.