Baladi News
France last month banned Iran’s Mahan Air from flying in and out of the country, citing the commercial airline’s transfers of equipment and personnel to Syria’s Assad regime and other Middle East conflict zones.
The move, which comes two months after a similar injunction by Germany, likely reflects the Trump administration’s increasing pressure on European governments.
Since Syria’s civil war began, Tehran has utilized Mahan Air to provide troops and materiel to Assad’s forces and Hezbollah. These transfers have significantly bolstered their military capabilities, fueling Syria’s atrocities against its own people and spurring Israeli airstrikes against Iran-backed forces.
Mahan Air may also pose a risk to Europe itself. In recent years, Iran has committed or attempted to commit multiple terror attacks and assassinations against Iranian dissidents in France, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
“It cannot be ruled out that this airline could also transport cargo to Germany that threatens our security,” a German official said. “This is based on knowledge of past terrorist activities by Iran in Europe.”
Source: Foundation for Defense of Democracy.