Caspian Airlines commences flights with Boeing 737

Caspian Airlines Boeing 737-4H6, reg. EP-CAP (cn 26466/2372) photographed by Shahram Sharifi 31AUG15 at Tehran - Mehrabad International (THR / OIII).

This aircraft commences Caspian Airlines flights operating Boeing 737-4H6 type aircraft. Photographer states initial flight route: THR-MHD-THR.

See table below for past and present operators of aircraft:

On 15DEC14, CH Aviation reported Caspian Airlines (IV, Tehran Mehrabad) had added its first B737-400s to its fleet of two B747 Classic freighters, one MD-82, and four MD-83s. According to the ch-aviation aircraft database, the Iranian carrier recently took delivery of three ex-Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) aircraft - T7-AWA (msn 26467), T7-AWB (msn 26466), and T7-AWC (msn 26451) - sourced via a Romanian intermediary.

See table below for roster and status, prior to 31AUG15 flight by EP-CAP:

Caspian Airlines (Persian: هواپیمایی کاسپین‎) is an airline headquartered in Tehran. Established in 1993, it operates services between Tehran and other major cities in Iran and international flights to Armenia, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Ukraine. Its main base is Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran. [source: Wikipedia]

Credits:
General information and Operators tables: Airfleets Aviation
Roster and status table: CH Aviation

Iran Government B737 takes FM Zarif to Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrives at Islamabad - Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB / OPRN) on 13AUG15 at approximately 06:30 hrs local time.

Zarif's aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran Government Boeing 737-286/Adv, reg. EP-AGA (cn 21317/483). For this current trip, EP-AGA has flown the foreign minister to Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan, with the next scheduled scheduled for India. Two weeks ago, this aircraft flew Zarif to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq. [see HERE]

This aircraft recently underwent D-check by Iran Air at Tehran - Mehrabad International (THR / OIII). [For aircraft history, click HERE].

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrives on 13AUG15 at Islamabad - Benazir Bhutto International Airport

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shakes hands with Artesh lieutenant colonel, likely a military attache to Pakistan.

EP-AGA seen arriving on 12AUG15 at Damascus International Airport (DAM / OSDI). Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is welcomed by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 12AUG15

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, on 12AUG15 in Beirut

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Gebran Bassil, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, on 12AUG15 in Beirut.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, on 12AUG15 in Beirut.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, on 12AUG15 in Beirut

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, Hezbollah Media Department and Reuters

Boeing 737 type additions to two Iranian airlines

First identified addition is Sepehran Airlines Boeing 737-529, reg. PK-TXH (cn 25218/2111).

Aircraft photographed 20JUL15 by Mohammadreza Farhadi Aref at Shiraz - Shahid Dastghaib International (SYZ / OISS).

Aircraft is 23.9 years old, obtained by Shiraz-based Sepehran Airline from Indonesia's Expressair. (Second B737 obtained through such arrangements, the first being PK-TXG.)

Second identified addition is Taban Airlines Boeing 737-4Q8, reg. EY-754 (cn 28202/3009).

Aircraft photographed 26JUL15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi at Tabriz - Shahid Madani International (Shaheed Fakouri) (TBZ / OITT).

Aircraft is 17.4 years old, obtained by Mashhad-centered Taban Airlines through wet lease arrangement with Tajikistan's Tajik Air.

Iran foreign minister and IRGC Quds Force commander in Iraq - Updated

[Updated to include FM Zarif's visit to Baghdad, 07:54 on 28JUL15]

During the last stage of his post-JCPOA Gulf diplomacy tour, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his diplomatic delegation arrive evening of 26JUL15 at Najaf International Airport in Iraq.

Zarif's aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran Government Boeing 737-286/Adv, reg. EP-AGA (cn 21317/483). First open-source photo of this VIP aircraft in service since very recent D-check by Iran Air and repainting in new style of government livery [see HERE].

Zarif's itinerary includes visits to the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, and shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein, and meeting with "Big Four" Grand Ayatollahs Sistani, Hakim, Fayyadh and Basheer Najafi (see below).

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 26JUL15 at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 26JUL15 praying at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq 

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Sayyed Hashem Nizar, Secretary General of the upper threshold of the sacred at Imam Ali shrine

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Sa'id al-Tabataba'i al-Hakim. The Grand Ayatollah's second cousin, Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim leads the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, one of the largest Shia political parties in Iraq.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyadh. Born in a village in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan to Hazara parents, this Grand Ayatollah holds Iranian and Afghani citizenships

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain Najafi

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and diplomatic delegation arriving 27JUL15 at Baghdad International Airport

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al-Abadi, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq President Muhammad Fuad Masum, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, President of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad.

Photo appearing this week on social media depicting IRGC-QF Commander Qasem Soleimaini, in Baghdad, with Popular Mobilization Force Commander Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and combat leaders from Iran-backed Kata'ib Jund al-Imam. Note in background flags of Kurdistan and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Location possibly Sulaymaniyah.

Photos: Mehr News Agency, Islamic Republic News Agency

Sepehran Airways' recently acquired Boeing 737

New Iranian startup Sepehran Airways Boeing 737-5L9 as photographed by MohammadReza Izadi  on 15MAY15, at the airline's base of operations Shiraz -Shahid Dastghaib International (SYZ / OISS).

Aircraft registration PK-TXG (cn 25066/2038) delivered to Sepehran Airways on 18APR15. Previous operator: Indonesia's Xpressair.

First flight was on 25APR91, making this aircraft 24 years old.

New livery for Iran Government Boeing 737 VIP aircraft

Thirty-eight years of EP-AGA service with Iran government 

Islamic Republic of Iran Boeing 737-286/Adv VIP aircraft, reg. EP-AGA (cn 21317/483) appearing  as it does now in new, updated livery with D check nearly complete. [click HERE]

Aircraft photographed by Shahram Sharifi in March 2015 at Tehran - Mehrabad International (THR / OIII).

EP-AGA first flight on 25FEB77, being delivered to Imperial State of Iran on 10MAR77.

EP-AGA as it appeared prepared for paintwork on 03SEP14.

[photo: Mehrad Watson]

EP-AGA as it appeared with painwork removed during D check in June 2014

[photo: Shahram Sharifi]

EP-AGA as it appeared in previous livery, at official visit to Moscow, Russian Federation on 02JUL13

[photo: Oleg Revin]

EP-AGA front cabin, aft-facing interior as it appeared on 13FEB12

[photo: A. Mahgoli]

EP-AGA front cabin, forward-facing interior as it appeared on 23AUG10

[photo: A. Mahgoli] 

EP-AGA with initial livery and Islamic Republic markings, on official visit to Czech Republic in 1993

[photo: Petr Popelář]

EP-AGA as it originally appeared on a 1978 postcard, in Persepolis markings with Imperial flag on vertical stabilizer.