G7 Nations Consider New Sanctions on IranAir Following Drone Attack

Members of the G7, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, are reportedly discussing new sanctions against IranAir in response to Iran’s recent drone strike against Israel, according to Bloomberg. The discussions are still private, and the specifics of the potential sanctions have not been detailed.

The new sanctions could further restrict IranAir’s operations in European markets, impacting its existing network. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, IranAir currently operates flights to major European cities such as Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg, Rome, Milan, London, Paris, and Vienna.

IranAir, which is not currently under specific European Union sanctions, faces restrictions due to its designation by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This designation complicates transactions involving US-origin goods or services, exposing European companies to secondary sanctions for dealings with the carrier. The US has previously pressured European entities to cease their interactions with Iranian airlines, including denying services like refueling.

As of now, the European Union allows Iranian passenger flights but has banned Iranian cargo flights to its member countries. These measures come amidst a broader context of escalating sanctions from both the United States and the European Union against Iran, primarily targeting its drone and missile sectors following incidents on April 17 and 18.