National-Regional SAR & Oil Pollution Response Exercise, Bandar Anzali

Iran media imagery of National-Regional Search and Rescue & Oil Pollution Response Exercise, effected 16JUN15 off Bandar Anzali in the Caspian Sea. Participating in the exercise were thirty vessels, four helicopters and a task force numbering 150 personnel.

Fire-fighting operation conducted by Masooleh tug (MMSI 422621000) and Yas Air Mil Mi-171, serial 15-1230

Fire-fighting operation involving Shahid Asade tug (IMO 7368152)

Iran Coast Guard NAJI 14 (MMSI 422319000) high speed light craft patrol type (constructed at Norway's Båtservice Mandal AS, 2005).

Masooleh tug (MMSI 422621000) and unidentified sister craft 

Yas Air Mil Mi-171, serial 15-1230 operating helicopter bucket for fire-fighting operation. Nardis cargo ship (IMO 9137246), seen at left.

IRIN Aviation Agusta AB-212ASW, serial 6-2402 (cn 5510) simulating helicopter SAR operation

IRIN Aviation Agusta AB-212ASW, serial 6-2415 (cn 5544) with Nardis cargo ship

Yasin trailing suction hopper dredger (IMO 9312951), operating as oil pollution response vessel

Valasht tug (IMO 9437749) engaged in simulated pollution recovery by skimmer

Bandar Anzali port facilities and administration building

ELA 07 autogyro, in operation above the Caspian Sea

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, and Morteza Rafikhah at Fars News Agency

Iraq: Iran Not Using Its Airspace to Ship Arms to Syria

Iraq today denied a Western intelligence report that Iran was using civilian aircraft to fly military personnel and weapons across Iraq to Syria.

“The official spokesman of Iraqi government had denied that issue altogether… There is nothing like this happening,” said Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamal, Iraq’s Deputy Interior Minister for Intelligence.  (Reuters, 20 September)

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that according to a Western intelligence report, “Iran has been using civilian aircraft to fly military personnel and large quantities of weapons across Iraqi airspace to Syria to aid Syrian President Bashar-Assad in his attempt to crush an 18-month uprising against his government.”

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday listed 117 Iran aircraft belonging to the country’s Iran Air, Mahan Airlines and Yas Air, for delivering weapons and transporting military personnel to Syria. The move was seen as pressuring the Iraqi government to stop the overflights of these aircraft to Syria.

Photo Credit: Iran Air Cargo Boeing 747-21AC/SCD, EP-ICD (cn 24134/712) photographed at Dubai 4/13/12, identified in the report. (Airlines.net)

U.S. Lists 117 Iran Aircraft for Delivering Weapons to Syria

The U.S. has identified 117 Iranian aircraft it says are ferrying weapons to Syria. The U.S. Treasury said the planes are operated by Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Yas Air and are delivering weapons and transporting troops under the cover of humanitarian shipments. (News wires)

The three airlines are already under Treasury sanctions. Now the department has listed the 117 planes individually. The move is seen as pressuring Iraq to stop flyover of these planes over its airspace enroute to Syria.

Photo Credit: (Airlines.net)

Top: Iran Air Cargo Boeing 747-21AC/SCD, EP-ICD (cn 24134/712) photographed at Dubai 4/13/12:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Iran-Air-Cargo/Boeing-747-21AC-SCD/2100331/&sid=3f114e70a4e14c6b5eb290ef8ba52360

Bottom: Mahan Air Boeing 747-3B3M, EP-MNE (cn 23480/641) photographed at Tehran on 3/22/12:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Mahan-Air/Boeing-747-3B3M/2086543/&sid=17552a171f313ac4a40c281066f7c67a