The United States on 31 July imposed fresh sanctions on a global network accused of sustaining Iran's Mahan Air, designating six entities and individuals across Iran, China, and Russia that Washington says enable the sanctioned carrier's operations on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The action, executed by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), marks a significant escalation in Washington's campaign to sever the IRGC's commercial lifelines.

What the Sanctions Target

The designated entities include Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co and Shanghai Elite International Travel Co — both China-based firms described as general sales agents for Mahan Air — along with Chinese national Tang Xin, identified as managing director of Shanghai Wings and owner of Shanghai Elite. Russia-based Air Cargo Pro Limited was also designated, alongside Iran's DadeNegar Startup Studio, which Washington described as an IRGC-affiliated front company.

Treasury alleged that DadeNegar went beyond commercial activity, operating an online platform that solicited the locations of American and Israeli military equipment to support Iranian targeting operations. 'DadeNegar solicited locations of American and Israeli equipment to support Iranian military targeting. In coordination with the IRGC, DadeNegar received strike requests for US targets in the Middle East,' the Treasury Department said.

What the US Says About Mahan Air

US officials have long maintained that Mahan Air operates well outside the bounds of a conventional civilian carrier. 'Although Mahan Air presents itself as a civilian carrier, it has long played a central role in enabling the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), providing travel services for IRGC-Qods Force personnel, facilitating military training, and supporting Iran's procurement and transport of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and weapons,' the Treasury Department said.

The State Department similarly described Mahan Air as the IRGC's airline of choice for moving weapons, military personnel, and equipment — a characterisation Iran has consistently rejected.

Treasury Secretary's Warning

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a pointed warning to any entity considering commercial ties with Mahan Air or the IRGC. 'Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise,' Bessent said. 'Treasury will continue to identify them, expose them, and cut them off from the US financial system.'

The warning carries legal weight: the sanctions freeze any US-jurisdiction assets of designated persons and prohibit US persons from transacting with them. Treasury also cautioned that foreign financial institutions facilitating significant transactions with designated entities could face secondary sanctions — a provision that extends Washington's reach well beyond American borders.

International Community Put on Notice

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott urged companies worldwide to reassess their exposure to sanctioned Iranian carriers. 'The United States calls on the international community, particularly companies and individuals doing business with Mahan Air or any other sanctioned Iranian carrier, to recognise the serious risks raised by continuing such engagement,' Pigott said.

He added that Washington 'will continue to expose and disrupt entities providing the IRGC with the tools and information it uses to threaten American personnel, our partners, and regional stability.' Notably, this round of designations is the latest in a sustained US effort to dismantle Mahan Air's international commercial infrastructure — a network that has reportedly rebuilt itself across multiple jurisdictions despite prior sanctions rounds.

Broader Context

Mahan Air has been under US sanctions since 2011, when it was first designated for providing support to the IRGC. Despite those restrictions, the airline has continued operating international routes, reportedly relying on intermediary companies — many based in jurisdictions with limited US enforcement reach — to maintain ticketing, logistics, and cargo operations. The inclusion of Chinese and Russian entities in this latest package signals Washington's intent to pressure third-country enablers more aggressively, even at the risk of diplomatic friction with Beijing and Moscow.