The Telegraph reveals intelligence suggesting Iran regime’s national airline, Iran Air, is secretly controlled by a senior commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This news reignites calls for stricter sanctions on the Iranian regime from Europe.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition group in exile, revealed Brigadier Shamseddin Farzadipour has been in charge of Iran Air since 2022. Farzadipour previously served as the aviation commander for the IRGC’s Air and Space Force.
This revelation comes as the European Union (EU) faces pressure to increase sanctions on the regime. France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States advocate for stricter measures due to the regime’s alleged shipment of weapons to Middle Eastern proxies and Russia. The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has resisted these calls, favoring continued diplomatic efforts.
However, the link between Iran Air and the IRGC may change this stance.
Iran Air’s Alleged Role in Weapon Transfers
The NCRI alleges Iran Air has been used for transporting:
- Money
- Weapons
- Equipment
These transfers allegedly support:
- Iran’s proxies in the Middle East
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime (via the Quds Force)
- Asadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who was convicted of plotting a terror attack on the annual gathering of the NCRI in Villepinte, north of Paris in 2018. As part of a prisoner swap, Assadi was exchanged with four Europeans in May and June 2023.
Shahin Gobadi of the NCRI said the Iranian regime “fully uses” Iran Air to further its goals, including “suppression at home” and “export of terrorism.”
Concerns Over Flights to Europe and Russia
Iran Air currently flies directly to several European cities, raising concerns it could be used to transport weapons to Europe. Additionally, flights to Moscow raise suspicion of potential military hardware transfers to Russia in support of the Ukraine invasion. The EU has threatened sanctions if such shipments are confirmed.
Sanctions Debate and the Nuclear Deal
While encouraging appeasement, Borrell fears imposing sanctions could jeopardize the EU’s role in ongoing nuclear negotiations with the regime. The US withdrew from a 2015 deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
This new information regarding Iran Air’s leadership strengthens arguments for stricter sanctions on the regime. The EU now faces a difficult decision: prioritize diplomacy and appeasement, or take a tougher stance against the regime’s malign and alleged activities.
