The U.S. government announced on Thursday (July 30th) that it will impose a new round of economic sanctions on Iran, targeting the global commercial network supporting the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its preferred carrier, Mahan Air. In particular, the sales agent company of Mahan Air in Shanghai and its responsible person have been included in the list of sanctions.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the State Department, this action is authorized under Executive Order 13224 and has imposed sanctions on six entities and individuals located in China, India, Russia, and Iran.
The U.S. government pointed out that despite Mahan Air’s claim to be a civilian airline, it has long served as a key channel for the IRGC-QF to transport weapons, military personnel, and UAV systems. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that anyone providing services to the Revolutionary Guard or Mahan Air is aiding in sustaining “terrorist enterprises.”
The Secretary stated, “The Treasury Department will continue to identify and expose them, and cut off their ties to the U.S. financial system.”
State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott also called on the international community, especially companies doing business with Mahan Air, to be aware of the serious risks of continuing their cooperation.
Several companies acting as “General Sales Agents” for Mahan Air have been targeted in the sanctions list, including entities and individuals based in China:
Shanghai Wings International Freight Agency Co., Ltd.:
Acts as Mahan Air’s General Sales Agent, coordinating the shipment of electronics from China to Iran.
Tang Xin:
General Manager of Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co., Ltd., responsible for coordinating Mahan Air travel arrangements; also the executive director and 50% owner of Shanghai Elite International Travel Co Ltd, which represents Mahan Air in China.
Other overseas agents:
India’s Skiez Travels and Russia’s Air Cargo Pro have also been listed for serving as Mahan Air’s General Sales Agents in their respective countries.
In addition to the logistics network, OFAC also sanctioned a shell company, DadeNegar Startup Studio, associated with the Revolutionary Guard. The company collects and solicits positions of U.S. and Israeli equipment in the Middle East through its website, assisting the Revolutionary Guard in receiving strike requests and supporting target selection for Iran’s military operations.
Under the sanctions, the assets and interests of the sanctioned entities in the U.S. or controlled by Americans are frozen; foreign financial institutions conducting transactions with the relevant parties may also face secondary sanctions and strict restrictions on correspondent accounts.