Rouhani flown to JFK for UNGA session in newly acquired A343

Above: President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif aboard newly acquired IRIG (Meraj Air) Airbus A340-313, reg. EP-AJA (cn 257) on 24SEP15, departing THR on RWY 29L, bound for JFK.  [photo: Mehrad Watson]

Livery painting complete, EP-AJA takes the Iranian delegation to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly session.

Flight details below, click to enlarge [source: Flightradar24]:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives at New York - John F. Kennedy International (Idlewild) (JFK / KJFK)

President Rouhani transfers to vehicle transport with assistance rendered by United States diplomatic security detail

At the United Nations General Assembly on 25SEP15: President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN Representative Gholamali Khoshroo.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on 25SEP15 at the United Nations

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on 25SEP15 at the United Nations.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Newly acquired A343 to serve as Iran Government VIP aircraft

Newly acquired Meraj Airlines A340-313, reg. EP-AJA (cn 257) as photographed by "shahram16216" at Instagram on 18SEP15 at Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR).

According to CH-Aviation:

Meraj Air (JI, Tehran Mehrabad) has taken delivery of its maiden A340-300, ex-AirBlue (PA, Karachi Int'l) machine EP-AJA (cn 257), that was originally reported as being destined for Asian Express Airline (Tajikistan) (KV, Dushanbe). Originally listed as heading for Singapore Changi, the quadjet was seen arriving at Tehran Mehrabad on Tuesday, September 15.

Reports out of Iran indicate the aircraft has already been reconfigured for VIP operations for the Iranian government and is sporting "Islamic Republic of Iran" titles.

COMMENTARY: First flight for this aircraft was Jan. 1999, making its age 16.9 years. Even so, this four-engine jetliner represents a more suitable VIP aircraft than far older Boeing 707-3J9C aircraft serving IRIG. It's also the first four-engine jetliner delivery to Iran since the signing of JCPOA. Successful implementation of the nuclear agreement accords Iran access to aviation purchases and deliveries previously barred by sanctions.

Meraj Airlines A340-313, reg. EP-AJA in partially applied IRIG livery; photographed by Mehrad Watson during 15SEP15 delivery flight to THR.

Operator history for EP-AJA (click table to enlarge):

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.

President Rouhani's trip to NYC aboard IRIG A340 - correction

President Rouhani boards Airbus A340-300 series aircraft 22SEP14 at THR / OIII, bound for JFK / KJFK to attend 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Aircraft appears to be Iran Aseman A340-311, reg. EP-APA (cn 002) in new IRIG livery.

Aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran (Mahan Air) Airbus A340-313, reg. EP-MMC (cn 282). See below:

Photos: Mahmoud Hosseini at Tasnim News Agency and Shahram Sharifi

Iran Parliament multiple new buildings construction, Tehran

Parliamentary residence, Parking & Council Commission and Library/Museum buildings, District 12

MP residence building being constructed at the south side of Parliament

KATO KR250H-V (SR250) hydraulic telescopic crane working the site

Artist's rendering of the completed project

New Parking & Council Commission building being erected at the east side of Parliament

Concrete-related silos and tower crane situated at the construction site

Artist's rendering of completed Parliamentary Parking & Council Commission building

New Library and Museum Archives building being constructed at east side of Parliament

No less than three tower cranes working the new library and museum construction site

Artist's rendering of completed Parliamentary Library and Museum archives building

Known Iranian aircraft ferrying supplies to Syria

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has renewed confrontation with Baghdad for continuing to grant Iran access to its airspace and said Iraq's behavior was raising questions about its reliability as a partner. U.S. officials believe Iran is ferrying weapons and fighters intended for the Syrian government. Iran maintains its flights to Syria provide relief supplies of a humanitarian nature. For its part, Iraq states it has at U.S. insistence diverted certain Iranian aircraft for inspection only to find no weapons or fighters onboard. Below are file photos of specific Iranian aircraft (each with civilian registration) known to have made recent flights into Syria:

 

Islamic Republic of Iran
Boeing 747-2J9F 

EP-AJI (cn 21507/340) (formerly IRIAF 5-8115, Iran Air Cargo EP-ICB)

This aircraft recently shot at with small arms fire by Syrian rebels while 

on final approach to a Syrian airport. 

Mahan Air

Boeing 747-3B3M

EP-MNE (cn 23480/641)

Aircraft identified in a 2012 U.S. report as overflying Iraq on resupply mission to Syria.

Iran Air Cargo

Boeing 747-21AC/SCD

EP-ICD (cn 24134/712)

Aircraft identified in a 2012 U.S. report as overflying Iraq on resupply mission to Syria.

Photos: Bahman, Babak T and Farzad Farajpour at Airliners.net