IranAir Challenges EU Sanctions in European Court
IranAir has filed a legal challenge against the European Union, seeking to overturn sanctions imposed in October 2024 that prohibit the airline from operating within EU airspace. The state-owned Iranian carrier filed the case, T-676/24, with the General Court of the EU on December 23, 2024. Details of the lawsuit were made public in late February 2025.
The EU sanctions were introduced due to IranAir’s alleged support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the airline argues that the measures are unjustified and violate several of its fundamental rights. These include the right to be heard, the right to defense, access to case files, and impartial evaluation of evidence.
In its filing, IranAir contends that the EU misused its authority and imposed the sanctions based on motives not aligned with the officially stated reasons. The airline claims that the decision was politically driven and lacks concrete evidence linking it to any direct support for Russian military activities.
IranAir also pointed to internal EU discussions acknowledging that the sanctions may represent a form of politically motivated collective punishment, rather than being based on individual culpability.
The case is currently under review, and the EU General Court has yet to appoint a panel of judges. The outcome could have implications for IranAir’s ability to resume operations in European markets and for broader EU sanctions enforcement policies.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com