Treasury targets companies and individuals in China, India, Russia, and Iran accused of facilitating Mahan Air’s logistics and the IRGC’s international operations.
The United States has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting an international network accused of supporting Iran’s Mahan Air and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), intensifying economic pressure on the Iranian regime’s military and logistical infrastructure.
In a statement released on July 30, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against six entities and individuals based in China, India, Russia, and Iran. The measures target companies serving as general sales agents for Mahan Air as well as an IRGC-linked front company allegedly involved in supporting military operations.
According to the Treasury Department, Mahan Air has long functioned as far more than a civilian airline, serving as a key logistical arm for the IRGC by transporting personnel, military equipment, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components, and weapons.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would continue targeting those who enable the airline’s operations.
“Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise. Treasury will continue to identify them, expose them, and cut them off from the U.S. financial system.”
Mahan Air’s Role in IRGC Operations
U.S. officials say Mahan Air has played a critical role in supporting the IRGC-Qods Force for years by transporting operatives, facilitating military training, and assisting the procurement and movement of weapons and drone technology.
Originally sanctioned by the United States in 2011, the airline has repeatedly been accused of using civilian aviation routes to support the regime’s military and regional operations. The latest sanctions seek to disrupt the international commercial infrastructure that allows the carrier to continue operating despite existing restrictions.
Companies Across Asia Targeted
The Treasury identified several companies that allegedly acted as general sales agents for Mahan Air, providing ticketing, cargo coordination, logistics, and commercial representation.
Among those sanctioned are:
- Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co., based in China, accused of coordinating shipments of electronics from China to Iran.
- Tang Xin, managing director of Shanghai Wings and executive director of Shanghai Elite International Travel Co.
- Shanghai Elite International Travel Co., which reportedly represented Mahan Air in China.
- India’s Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited.
- Russia’s Air Cargo Pro Limited.
According to OFAC, these firms materially assisted or provided services supporting Mahan Air’s international operations, helping the airline maintain commercial activities despite years of U.S. sanctions.
IRGC Front Company Also Sanctioned
The Treasury also designated DadeNegar Startup Studio, describing it as an IRGC-affiliated front company.
According to U.S. officials, DadeNegar operated an online platform used to collect information on American and Israeli military equipment and allegedly coordinated targeting requests with the IRGC during ongoing regional conflict.
Treasury said the company provided technological support for IRGC military operations and therefore qualified for sanctions under U.S. counterterrorism authorities.
Pressure on the Iranian Regime
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorist organizations and those providing them with material support. The Treasury said the action also advances the objectives of National Security Presidential Memorandum-2, which seeks to deny the IRGC access to financial and logistical resources.
The latest measures come as Washington continues increasing economic pressure on the Iranian regime following its regional military activities, including attacks on commercial shipping and security threats in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the sanctions, all assets of the designated entities and individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions involving sanctioned parties may also face secondary sanctions.
The Treasury said the measures are intended to further isolate the IRGC’s global support network by disrupting the commercial and financial channels that sustain its international operations.
