UANI

"Foreign airlines, including Malaysia's AirAsia and Britain's BMI, are ceasing services to Iran amid its mounting economic problems spurred on by Western sanctions. AirAsia announced it was suspending its four flights a week between Kuala Lumpur and Tehran from next Sunday because of challenging business conditions, notably the 'volatility of the Iranian currency.'" (The Daily Star, "Airlines stop Iran flights as currency crisis bites," 10/8/2012)

"Outside carriers including Qatar Airways Ltd. have increased services to Iran to fill gaps where the Islamic republic’s own operators are struggling to operate." (Bloomberg, "Iran Air Lifts Foreign Fares 90% as Sanctions Push Up Fuel Costs," 11/25/2012)

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"Relief, it appears, will come from Qatar Airways, which has been tapped to take over an unspecified number of domestic flights within Iran. The unprecedented announcement was promptly followed by news that the Doha-based airline plans to greatly expand its flight offerings to Iranian cities... Few details were provided, but based on the agreement Qatar Airways will have to cooperate with Iranian airlines as required by Iranian regulations banning foreign companies from operating domestic routes. The measure is also seen by some as a means of countering sanctions... 'Allowing Qatar or any other foreign country to operate some of our domestic flight is aimed at diminishing the pressure of the sanctions, and it is a suitable policy under the current conditions,' Iranian lawmaker Ali Akbar Moghanjoughi was quoted as saying about the agreement... For its part Qatar Airways announced on October 31 a '150 percent increase in overall frequency' of its flights to Iran beginning December 1. The airline said there will be an additional 31 flights each week from Doha, with the historic city Isfahan being added as a destination city. Qatar Airways has already flights to three major Iranian cities: Tehran, Mashhad, and Shiraz... 'Today's announcement is a historic moment showing the strengthening of ties between our two countries,' Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said... 'It's going to be seen -- in Washington certainly -- as one more example of Qatar not being as cooperative as United States would like about sanctions. I don't think Qatar is violating any laws here but they're certainly violating the spirit of isolating Iran,' Hounshell said... 'Iran Air was founded 25 years (in 1946) before Qatar gained its [independence] (in 1971), 'read a message widely shared on Facebook that warned, 'Qatar is conquering Iran's airspace.'... On the other hand, she says, people will feel safer flying with Qatar Airways instead of Iranian airlines that have suffered a number of tragic accidents in recent years... 'I will definitely choose Qatar Airways over those Soviet-made planes, even if I have to pay more,' says one man in Tehran, noting that officials have announced that the cost of the Qatar Airways-operated flights would be 25 percent higher than those run by Iranian airlines." (Radio Farda, "Qatar Conquers Iran's Airspace," 11/5/2011)

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In a press release published on its site, Qatar Airways announced 31 extra flights/week across four Iranian cities, representing 150% capacity hike, beginning in January 2012. (Qatar Airways, "Press Releases," 10/31/2011).

"The Persian Gulf country will buy two Ukrainian-made Antonov-158s, after a test flight of the aircraft earlier this month, Mohammad-Ali Sirati, managing director of the Iranian aircraft company, was cited as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. The countries then will start to jointly build the aircraft next year, Sirati, whose company will be in charge of the project, said in Tehran yesterday. Some 30 percent of each plane will be made in Iran, state-run media reported." (Business Week, "Iran Says Antonov-158 Built With Ukraine May Fly in 2013," 10/6/2011)

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Antonov lists on its website that their AN-24 turboprop aircraft is serially produced at HESA plant in Isfahan, Iran. (Antonov website)

“The armed forces closed down the recently inaugurated Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA) on 8th May.  Because of security concerns, the armed forces closed the airport after a commercial airliner landed at the airport.  This was the first aircraft to land at IKIA. The armed forces announced that the decision to entrust the airport’s operation to a foreign company ‘threatens the security of the country as well as its dignity. The airport was built and was expected to be run by Turkish-Austrian consortium Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV). Iran’s two domestic airlines had announced that they would not transfer their operations to the airport.” (Zawya, “New Imam Khomeini Airport Closed after First Flight,” May 2004)

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The Guardian Council, comprising six Islamic clerics and six lay jurists, has in effect become an upper house of parliament. The council can vet all legislation passed by the Majlis and veto any laws that it judges do not comply with Islamic law or Irans constitution. Its influence was most apparent in 2004 and 2005 when it ratified legislation giving the Majlis retroactive veto power over two major foreign investment contracts, those of Turkcell (Turkey) and Tepe-Akfen-Vie (a joint Austrian-Turkish consortium). (Economist Intelligence Units Country Commerce Select, The operating environment: Political conditions, March 19, 2008)

In their 2010 10-k form to the SEC, World Fuel Services Corp. disclosed information regarding their ventures in Iran. 

"From time to time, certain of our subsidiaries have had limited business dealings in countries subject to comprehensive OFAC-administered sanctions, specifically Iran.  We provided to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), in response to an administrative subpoena, information regarding all transactions by the Company involving Iran. Pursuant to licenses issued by OFAC, Company subsidiaries purchase overflight permits from Iran. Payments for overflight permits are made to the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority. The Company's subsidiaries have also provided certain services (e.g., procuring ground handling services and landing permits and providing flight plans) and supplied fuel in connection with passenger flights to and from the country. the Company has recently discovered one instance in which one of its subsidiaries arranged for the sale of marine fuel to a Singapore-owned and operated vessel while it was at port in Bandar Abbas, Iran.  The Company recently supplied fuel in the United States to an Iranian government owned aircraft in connection with the Iranian government's participation at meetings of the United Nations." (10-K for WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORP, 2/25/2010)

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A subsidiary of World Fuel Services Corp, Tramp Oil Marine and Aviation, lists in its directory that it is involved in fuel services with nine airports in Iran. "This booklet lists over 2,000 airports where Tramp Oil Aviation Ltd can offer jet fuel supplies on an into-plane basis." (Tramp Oil & Marine Website)

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"The Bush administration's record enforcing export laws is mixed. The Office of Foreign Assets Control let the statute of limitations expire in at least 25 cases involving trade with Iran from 2002 to 2005, according to one internal department audit. The companies involved, disclosed to the AP under the Freedom of Information Act, include Acterna Corp., American Export Lines, Parvizian Masterpieces, Protrade International Corp., Rex of New York, Shinhan Bank, Phoenix Biomedical Corp., World Cargo Alliance and World Fuel Services...World Fuel Services said an employee fueled a ship out of Singapore that turned out to be Iranian-owned, and the U.S. government spotted it from a wire transfer." (The Daily Herald, "From bull semen to bras, Iran still buys American Products," 7/8/2008)

The Balli Group, a holding entity of trading companies, maintains an office in Tehran, Iran. (Company Website)

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“Balli Aviation Ltd., a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based Balli Group PLC, pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a two-count criminal information in connection with its illegal export of commercial Boeing 747 aircraft from the United States to Iran, announced David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Channing D. Phillips, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Thomas Madigan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement; and Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Under the plea agreement, Balli Aviation Ltd. agreed to pay a $2 million criminal fine and be placed on corporate probation for five years. The $2 million fine, combined with a related $15 million civil settlement among Balli Group PLC, Balli Aviation Ltd., the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), that was also announced today, represents one of the largest fines for an export violation in BIS history. Under the terms of the related civil settlement, Balli Group PLC and Balli Aviation Ltd. have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $15 million of which $2 million will be suspended if there are no further export control violations. In addition, Balli Aviation Ltd. and Balli Group PLC are denied export privileges for five years, although this penalty will be suspended provided that neither Balli Aviation nor Balli Group commits any export violations and pays the civil penalty.  Under the terms of the settlement, Balli Group PLC and Balli Aviation, Ltd. will also have to submit the results of an independent audit of its export compliance program to BIS and OFAC for each of the next five years.” (U.S. Department of Justice, “U.K. Firm Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting Boeing 747 Aircraft to Iran,” 2/5/10)

Austrian Airlines offers daily flights between Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) and Vienna International Airport (VIE) ( company website).

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"Austrian Airlines , a unit of Germany's Deutsche Lufthansa , is cancelling its services to Iran due to a lack of demand, a spokesman said. The carrier's last flight from Vienna to Tehran will be on January 13... Austrian Airlines suspended its service to Tehran for more than two months last summer because it could not be sure of getting its planes refueled there." (Reuters, "Two airlines suspend Iran flights as economy weakens," 1/13/2012)

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The airline is a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa, the flag carrier of Germany, which also offers daily flights to Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport.

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"Some major Western airlines were continuing to fly to Tehran, though, namely Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, KLM and Alitalia... Austrian said in a statement that 'we plan to continue our flights VIE-THR-VIE up to five times a week,' and dismissed rumours that they would stop." (The Daily Star, "Airlines stop Iran flights as currency crisis bites," 10/8/2012)

Runs multiple flights each week both to and from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Urumqi International Airport (URC) to Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA). (Company Website)

Multiple flights each week from Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) connecting in Abu Dhabi to various airports, and location around the world. (Company Website)

Multiple flights offered weekly between Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) and Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (Company Website).

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"Italian airline Alitalia also flies to Iran, according to its website." (Reuters, "Two airlines suspend Iran flights as economy weakens," 1/12/2013)

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"Some major Western airlines were continuing to fly to Tehran, though, namely Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, KLM and Alitalia." (The Daily Star, "Airlines stop Iran flights as currency crisis bites," 10/8/2012)