Two Mahan Air A346 planes now flying international routes, defying U.S. sanctions

Two Mahan Air aircraft obtained 08MAY15 with Iraqi assistance are now flying international routes, in defiance of U.S. sanctions related to the airline's past IRGC-related logistical activities in support of Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanese Hezbollah, MODAFL and ICAO. The two aircraft are:

- Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391)

- Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR (cn 416)

International flights for these U.S.-sanctioned aircraft now include the following destinations:

- Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV), since 19JUN15

- Ankara - Esenboğa International Airport (ESB / LTAC), since 07JUN15

- Dubai International Airport (DXB / OMDB), since 03JUN15

Above: Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391) at Athens International Airport

Mahan Air Flight W558 photographed 19JUN15 by Antoni Sanagno

Table of recent flights for Mahan Air EP-MMH (cn 391)  [source: Flightradar24]

Table of recent flights for Mahan Air EP-MMR (cn 416)  [source: Flightradar24]

Also of interest, Mahan Air on 17JUN15 inaugurated flights to Milan – Malpensa Airport (MXP / LIMC). Inaugural flight undertaken by Airbus A343 aircraft reg. EP-MMB, obtained by Mahan Air on 23DEC12.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-311, reg. EP-MMB (cn 7335A2) undergoing water salute ceremony at Malpensa Airport

Mahan Air Flight W5110 photographed 17JUN15 by MXphotos

Mahan Air A346 EP-MMH flying international routes, defying U.S. sanctions

Sanctioned Mahain Air A346, reg. EP-MMH photographed by Nabeel Hashmi of "Dubai Spotters"

According to Reuters:

Iran will take legal action if Washington tries to stop newly acquired Iranian passenger planes flying international routes, the head of the country's aviation authority said on Tuesday.

Iran's Mahan Air, blacklisted by Washington, bought eight second-hand Airbus A340s and one Airbus A321 in May in defiance of U.S. sanctions. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported last week that the planes would be used on international routes.

The U.S. Treasury department said last month that Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in the planes, meaning they could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that Washington may attempt to have them seized at airports outside Iran.

"As long as ... a disruption has not taken place, we cannot make a definite assertion. But if it happens, Iran will take legal action," said Alireza Jahangirian, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).

COMMENTARY: According to Flightradar24 data, sanctioned aircraft registration EP-MMH (cn 391) is currently undertaking international flights from IKA to destinations in Dubai and Turkey, just as the Fars News article cited above stated as the intent of Iran and Mahan Air (see table below). Above photo may well have been taken at DXB.

Ramifications of a U.S. seizure of this aircraft would likely impact current negotiations over the Iranian nuclear power program. The Iranians frame any new sanctioning efforts by the United States as "contrary to the spirit" of the nuclear negotiation process. That the Iranian negotiators would be undermined by an aircraft impoundment may also come into play were IRGC to be calculative of such an end, for it's understood IRGC views potential disclosures over its ballistic missile program and military industrial complex as detrimental to Iranian national defense. Additionally, a seizure might provide said political interest inside Iran with the added boost of popular opinion, in depicting the Iranian people deprived of safer air travel by a hostile power. Thus this is a potentially high stakes move by the Iranians, with the burden now placed on the United States to determine if impoundment will result from acquisition and operation of international routes undertaken by Mahain Air EP-MMH.

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Dubai Ruler Receives Letter from Rouhani on Oil Prices

UAE VP and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed on Tuesday received a letter form Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the plunging oil prices and the need to stabilize international oil markets. The letter was handed over by visiting Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh during a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed in Dubai. No further details were available. (The Gulf Today, 19 November)

File photo: UAE VP and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid (The National)

Flydubai Plane Chartered by U.S. Military Diverted to Bandar Abbas

UPDATE: Flydubai plane leaves Bandar Abbas - Lands in Dubai

A UAE commercial aircraft, Flydubai, chartered by U.S. forces in Afghanistan for a flight to Dubai, carrying 110 American citizens and 30 other passengers and crew, was diverted to land in Bandar Abbas, Iran on Friday, reportedly because of a mix-up over its flight plan. The plane was flying from Bagram airfield north of Kabul to Dubai. The normal flight path goes through Iranian airspace. (AP, 5 September)

An American official told AP that the Iranians radioed the plane's crew to say they did not have the proper paperwork and to return to Bagram. The pilots said they did not have enough fuel to return so the Iranian authorities told them to land in Bandar Abbas. It was not immediately clear why the plane could not go to Dubai if it could have returned to Bagram.

A senior State Department official said the issue appeared to have been resolved after the plane landed at Bandar Abbas and officials believed the plane would be cleared to resume its journey.

UPDATE: Flydubai announced that the plane was permitted to leave Bandar Abbas at 03:15 AM Saturday local time (6:45 pm Friday EST) and was en route to Dubai. 

UPDATE: The plane landed in Dubai at 04:00 AM Saturday local time (8:00 pm Friday EST).

File photo: A flydubai Boeing 737-8KN (Boeing/airliners.net)

Iran FM in UAE

Reaching Out to Gulf States

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif today arrived in the United Arab Emirates as part of a charm offensive to improve the strained relations with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Zarif has already visited Kuwait, Qatar and Oman during his current Gulf tour.

“Iran is taking advantage of the interim (Geneva) agreement to make inroads into the GCC to resolve outstanding issues,” said Theodore Karasik, a security and political affairs analyst at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis – INEGMA. (AP, 4 December)

In UAE today, Zarif held talks with Emirati President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his palace in desert oasis city of Al Ain and met with the Ruler of Dubai and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum in the bustlng commercial hub of Dubai.

During the meetings, the Emirati leaders welcomed the signing of the interim Geneva Iran accord. The two sides were also expected to have reviewed the issue of the three islands, especially Abu Musa, which is under the Iranian control but claimed by both countries.

Photo credit: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. December 4, 2013. (WAM/Associated Press)

Unforgettable Iran Air experience - Video

Sam Chui flies into Iran just to get the chance of return flying aboard the restored and upgraded, classic Iran Air Boeing 747-286BM 'Azarabadegan,' EP-IAG (cn 21217/291).

Interesting travel details for Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, as well as IranAir flight details from a highly motivated aviation enthusiast

Dubai Trade Volume Sets Record High

Despite Plunge in Trade with Iran

Dubai's non-oil trade jumped 16 percent in the first quarter of 2013 despite a plunge in trade with Iran, the director of Dubai customs announced today. Non-oil trade grew to $88.6 billion in the first quarter, on pace for a record year of non-oil revenues at more than $350 billion.

“Up to this quarter, we reached an approximately 16 percent growth in trade," Ahmed Butti Ahmed, director general of Dubai Customs, told Reuters in an interview. (Reuters, 14 May)

Dubai’s trade with Iran dropped by 31 percent in 2012 due to international sanctions, and continued its plunge during the first quarter of 2013.

“The embargo on one side, the other side is that the Iranian currency became very (weak) so it has become a little bit more expensive for them,” Ahmed said.

Photo credit: Dubai skyline at night (slickzine.com)