The US and allies announced a coordinated response to punish the government of Iran for supplying missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine. In a significant step, the allies promised sanctions against Iran Air, further crippling the Airbus-equipped state carrier.
OFAC is designating ten individuals and six entities based in Iran and Russia and identifying four vessels as blocked property that are enabling Iran’s delivery of weapons components and weapons systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs), to Russia.
In a coordinated move, the governemnts of France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement
"The E3 has privately and publicly been clear that we would take new and significant measures against Iran if the transfers took place. We now have confirmation that Iran has made these transfers.
"We will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran. In addition, we will pursue the designations of significant entities and individuals involved with Iran’s ballistic missile programme and the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia. We will also work towards imposing sanctions on Iran Air."
The Department of State, along with allied countries is designating three entities, including Iran Air, and identifying five vessels as blocked property involved in the proliferation of Iranian weapons systems to Russia.
Tehran-based Iran Air is Iran’s flagship airline and operates both passenger and cargo flights. Iran Air has a history of transporting goods on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). Iran Air has also provided freight shipping services to Russia, including shipments of electronics and aircraft parts.
Existing sanctions have grounded much of the carrier's fleet of Airbus and ATR aircraft, with reports from last summer saying more than two-thirds were out of service. The average age of the fleet exceeds 25 years.
The carrier had maintained scheduled flights to France, German, The UK and Italy.
Iran Air was previously identified as meeting the definition of Government of Iran pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13599 on November 5, 2018, for being owned or controlled by the Government of Iran. Treasury then identified 67 Iran Air-operated aircraft as blocked property on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). The 2018 designation has blocked outstanding orders for new planes including 32 A320neos, 28 A330neos, and 16 A350s.
Treasury's action included further measures against the previously sanctioned TransMorFlot LLC, and MG-Flot, operator of four Caspian freighters and executives and engineers associated with missile development and their transport.
For identifying information on the individuals and entities sanctioned today, click here.
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