Iran’s Mahan Air operating as commercial aircraft provider to Syria

While Iran Air has recently been making headlines with new aircraft purchases and a hand full of deliveries, Mahan Air has been acquiring commercial aircraft on behalf of Iran with which to provide Syria. These include a number of Airbus aircraft, including an Airbus A300 and what appears to be three Airbus A343. (Aviation writer Babak Taghvaee lists an additional A310 previously delivered from Iran to Syria but apparently not operational.)

Below are photos of known identified aircraft with comments:

Aircraft: Airbus A300B4-605R

Reg: EP-MNM (MSN: 773)

Photo Date: 03AUG2016

Location: Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran

Photographer: Hassan Fereydoun

Comment: This Mahan Air aircraft was delivered to SyrianAir on 13AUG2016 and is currently operated by the former through a wet lease agreement. Photo above depicts aircraft with Mahan Air livery removed not long before delivery to current operator. Interesting that many of SyrianAir current flights with this aircraft service routes from Baghdad and Najaf, Iraq.

Aircraft: Airbus A340-313

Reg: UP-A4001 / YK-AZA (MSN: 381)

Photo Date: JAN2017

Location: Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran

Photographer: ---

Comment: Aircraft flown 10FEB2017 from Tehran (THR) to Damascus (DAM). Registration used for flight was TT-WAG. New registration YK-AZA. Unlike A300 above, this aircraft is not ex-Mahan and not a wet lease; said being indirectly granted to Syria through Mahan Air at behest of Iran.

Aircraft: Airbus A340-313

Reg: UP-A4003 (MSN: 0292)

Photo Date: 30JAN2017

Location: Athens International Airport

Photographer: Alex Filippopoulos

Comment: Stored eight years in Athens, this aircraft has been slated for service with Bek Air of Kazakhstan. However 15FEB2017 flight from ATH to THR suggests this is another aircraft indirectly granted to Syria through Mahan Air at behest of Iran.

Aircraft: Airbus A340-313

Reg: UP-A4002, shown previously as SX-DFC (MSN: 0280)

Photo Date: 29DEC2007

Location: Franz Josef Strauss International Airport

Photographer: Björn Düwel

Comment: 14FEB2017 flight from ATH to THR suggests this is another aircraft indirectly granted to Syria through Mahan Air at behest of Iran.

Additional comments:
- Mahan Air is subject to U.S. sanctions, while SyrianAir is subject to both U.S. and EU sanctions.
- Before this recent intervention by Iran, SyrianAir may havebeen reduced to operating a single commercial airliner.
- This is not the first time Iran has granted aircraft to a regional ally. Previously, an ex-Mahan Air Airbus A300 aircraft was provided to the Republic of Iraq Government, replete with Iranian aircrew. Interesting, this aircraft continues to be listed in service with the Iraqi government. Photo and details provided below:

Aircraft: Airbus A300B4-203

Reg: YI-APX (MSN: 239)

Photo Date: 18Mar2011

Location: Baghdad International Airport

Photographer: Pete Volek

Comment: This ex-Mahan Air aircraft presented as a gift from Iran to the Iraqi government on 21JUL2007.

Key takeaways from Iran and the U.S. response towards ballistic missile test

A brief listing of takeaways by Iran to the U.S. response towards the test launch of a ballistic missile (or SLV platform) occurring 29JAN2017:

— Iran determined the new U.S. Administration responded to the ballistic missile test in nearly the same manner as the preceding administration, in applying roughly a dozen new sanctions on individuals and entities. Moreover, the tendered response remained consistently symbolic. The U.S. did not unilaterally withdraw from JCPOA, invoke a military show of force or draw a red line for imminent initiation of armed conflict.

— The political spectrum of Iran rallied in support of the defense doctrine based on the deterrent force provided by IRGC-ASF, with its developing second-strike ballistic missile capability.

( IRGC-ASF were subsequently put on simulated alert status during exercises held on 04FEB2017 in Semnan Province. The drills had likely been planned in advance.)

— Iran’s leadership noted a resumption of the country being targeted by the U.S. for combat actions taken by regional allies, or armed groups it is sympathetic towards. In this case, it was the Houthi naval naval engagement with a RSNF Al Madinah-class frigate off the coast of Yemen. This resumption signals a return to relations where they stood during the Bush Administration, severing a level of cooperation engaged upon with the Obama Administration that saw signing of JCPOA, rapid release of trespassing USN personnel in the Persian Gulf, the negotiated release of American citizens in Yemen, etc.

COMMENT: Two certainties emerged from this episode:

— The United States will make all ballistic missile and SLV launches public and continue to render some level of response. (The variable posed is whether responses will remain within the status quo.)

— Iran will continue to maintain its defense doctrine based on deterrence, with further development and testing of its ballistic missile force.

U.S. Congress bill seeks to investigate Iran Air

Illustration of potential Iran Air Boeing 777-300ER series [rendering by Bobby Catone]

A bill in Congress has been introduced that could potentially block civilian passenger jet deals between Airbus and Boeing and Iran.

According to CNN:

Peter Roskam, a Republican member of the House, introduced a bill on Friday to initiate an investigation by the Trump administration's Director of National Intelligence into Iran Air and the nation's other airlines.

If Iran Air or any other airline were to be found to support the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps or foreign terrorist organizations, the airline would be added to the U.S. sanctions list and be prevented from receiving new aircraft or U.S.-made parts. That would effectively freeze the sale of jets from Boeing to Iran.

The legislation would exert little control over the Airbus aircraft that are already delivered, but the airline would not be able to receive spare parts for those planes, or receive any maintenance outside of Iran. If Iran Air received maintenance or parts outside of Iran, that provider would be barred from doing business with the U.S. market.

What is at stake from an American standpoint, according to Boeing is the sale of 80 aircraft that includes 50 737 MAX 8s, 15 777-300ERs and 15 777-9s, valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

COMMENT: Back in 2012 the Obama Administration identified Iran Air or its freight division of ferrying weapons to Syria, so linkage to the IRGC-QF appears plausible.

What is clear is that for a majority in Congress, the passenger aircraft deal made possible by JCPOA remains unpalatable. First and foremost, it would initiate a level normalization of relations between the U.S. and Iran, as well as for Western allies.

Passenger jetliners serve as potential transports during wartime. The United States has a record of using such aircraft and related carriers during wartime. So do Iran and their allies. For example during the buildup for the Battle of Aleppo, Iran-supported Iraqi PMF were ferried from Iraqi airports using civilian jetliners.

Iran Air has a history of sanctions being levied against it. Back in 2006 the U.S. allowed the EU to resume spare parts sales and deliveries and more recently the JCPOA removed U.S. sanctions from the airline.

The Iranians appeared to have recently shifted American-origin passenger jetliner aircraft operated by airlines still under sanction, over to Iran Air. This appears to be the case with IRIG Boeing 737-286/Adv reg. EP-AGA (msn 21317); no longer operated by Meraj Air but now maintained by Iran Air (see photo below).

There is a lot at stake in this potential development, including:
1) Tens of billions of dollars to the aerospace industry
2) The political fate of a moderate Iranian president in the upcoming election
3) The landmark Iran nuclear deal, itself.

IRIG Boeing 737-286/Adv reg. EP-AGA, as it appeared 12JAN2017 at the Iran Air maintenance section at THR [photo: Mehdi Bolourian at Fars News Agency].