US Expands Sanctions on Iran’s Yazd Airways and Gambia’s Macka

The United States has expanded its aviation-related sanctions, targeting Iran’s Yazd Airways and Gambian-based Macka Invest Company Limited for their alleged roles in supporting Mahan Air’s international procurement and operational networks. The latest update from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) intensifies pressure on Iran’s aviation sector and its affiliated entities.

According to OFAC, Yazd Airways and its executives assisted Mahan Air in transporting members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force to Syria in support of the Assad regime and Hezbollah, activities allegedly backed by Russian military protection. The sanctions name Yazd Airways managing director Reza Heidari and vice-chairman Reza Namakshenas for their involvement.

Yazd Airways operates a single ARJ85 (EP-DZH), and recently suspended operations for two weeks after Mahan Air ended its maintenance support agreement. OFAC also broadened sanctions on Mahan Air by designating two senior officials—flight operations manager Mohammad Mahdi Maghfoori and captain Mohammad Reza Moaref Jahromi—citing their roles in sustaining operations linked to groups labelled terrorist by Washington.

Seven aircraft currently flying for Mahan Air were also added to the sanctions list, including ARJ85 EP-MEB, Fokker 50 EP-MEH, A340-200 EP-MJA, A340-300s EP-MJE, EP-MJF, EP-MJG, and A340-600 EP-MMU.

The sanctions additionally target Macka Invest Company Limited, cited as a key intermediary in the 2024 transfer of two A340-600s from Siauliai to Iran. The aircraft were temporarily registered under Gambian C5- markings before delivery, including EP-MMU, now among the newly sanctioned jets.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com