On Thursday, the U.S. government announced a new round of sanctions targeting international networks accused of supporting the Iranian airline Mahan Air. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, these entities and individuals—located in China, India, Russia, and Iran—have acted as sales agents and logistical support providers for the carrier.

Washington has long maintained that Mahan Air serves as a transport mechanism for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically facilitating the movement of military personnel, weaponry, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). These new designations are intended to disrupt the airline's ability to operate globally by cutting off its access to these specific support networks. Mahan Air is already subject to existing sanctions from both the United States and the European Union.

The Treasury Department’s statement emphasizes that these actions are part of a broader effort to limit the operational capabilities of the IRGC. While the U.S. government has provided this justification for the sanctions, the affected entities have not yet issued public responses to the designations. The announcement highlights the ongoing tension between U.S. foreign policy objectives regarding Iran and the international business networks that continue to facilitate trade and logistics for Iranian state-linked organizations.