MUNICH: German authorities has withdrawn permission to Mahan Air to operate from its airports, the airline is the second largest carrier in Iran after Iran Air. Mahan Airlines operates under the name Mahan Air is a privately owned Iranian airline based in Tehran, Iran.
It appears this is an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union against Iran over attacks on opponents in the bloc.
The airline operates scheduled domestic services and international flights to the Far East, Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. The airline offered non-stop flights to German airports including Duesseldorf and Munich. .
“The Federal Aviation Office (LBA) will this week suspend the operating license of Iranian airline Mahan,” reported Munich-based newspaper.
The EU earlier this month targeted sanctions at Iran’s security services and two of their leaders, accused of involvement in a series of murders and planned attacks against Tehran critics in the Netherlands, Denmark, and France.
Brussels’ measures included freezing funds and financial assets belonging to Iran’s intelligence ministry and individual officials but did not target any companies.
By contrast, Mahan Air was blacklisted by the US in 2011, as Washington said the carrier was providing technical and material support to an elite unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards known as the Quds Force.
The U.S. Treasury has threatened sanctions against countries and companies offering the airline’s 31 aircraft landing rights or services such as onboard dining.
German firms have come under especially intense pressure from American ambassador H.E. Richard Grenell, a close ally of President Donald Trump, over sanctions against Iran.
Rail operator Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and industrial group Siemens have all said they will stop their operations in Iran.
