UANI Statement on Treasury Action Targeting Iran’s Airlines and Aviation Facilitators

(New York, NY)—Today United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) welcomed the U.S. Treasury Department’s latest action targeting Iran’s airlines and the international network of companies and facilitators that enable them to operate.

For years, UANI has warned that Iran’s supposedly civilian aviation sector is anything but. The Iranian regime has consistently used the nation’s airlines and airports to transport military personnel, weapons, sanctioned goods, and other resources in support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and destabilizing activities across the Middle East and beyond:

“Beyond [already-sanctioned] Mahan Air and Iran Air, almost every major civilian airline in Iran is under IRGC control and is used for its purposes. The IRGC owns the Pars Aviation Services Company, which operates YAS Air (also known as Pouya Air) as a subsidiary. The IRGC maintains links to Qeshm Fars Air – which is operated by IRGC personnel and has been involved in weapons transfers to terrorist proxies and other malign activities, such as supporting the genocidal regime in Myanmar… Aseman’s CEO, Hossein Alaei, has longstanding ties to the IRGC.” (UANI, Iran’s Misuse of Civilian Aircraft)

UANI has engaged with more than 100 entities in the aviation sector, warning aviation authorities, airlines, aircraft lessors, parts suppliers, maintenance providers, airports, ground-service companies, and other commercial partners about the risks of facilitating Iran’s illicit activities.

UANI commends Secretary Scott Bessent and the Treasury Department for targeting not only Iranian airlines such as Iran Aseman Airline, Pars Airlines, and Qeshm Air, but also the foreign facilitators and procurement networks that sustain them. 

Treasury’s action of September 8, which also suspends General License J “[a]uthorizing the Reexportation of Certain Civil Aircraft to Iran…” makes clear that Iran cannot be permitted to use the cover of civilian aviation to advance its military and terrorist goals. 

UANI Research Director Daniel Roth said:

“For a long time, UANI has urged governments and private companies to recognize that Iran’s aviation infrastructure is a critical component of the regime’s broader sanctions evasion and terror sponsorship. The Iranian regime has systematically exploited international aviation networks while requiring legitimate businesses to bear the reputational and sanctions risks. Companies that provide aircraft, parts, maintenance, financing, logistical support, or other services to Iran’s airlines should understand that their commercial relationships can cost them dearly.”

To read UANI’s resource on Iran’s Misuse of Civilian Aircraft, click here.

To see UANI’s Airports Campaign, click here.