US Sanctions Delhi Firm Skiez Travels Over Mahan Air Links to Iran's IRGC

Mahan Air's Alleged Role in IRGC Operations

The US Treasury has long maintained that Mahan Air, despite presenting itself as a civilian commercial carrier, has played a central role in supporting the IRGC's operational capabilities. According to the Treasury's statement, the airline has provided travel services for IRGC-Qods Force personnel, facilitated military training, and supported Iran's procurement and transport of unmanned aerial vehicle systems and weapons.

The sanctions come amid a broader escalation of hostilities between the US and Iran. The current conflict was triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran and has resulted in several rounds of retaliatory strikes. The confrontation has led to a near-complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of the world's energy supplies previously passed.

This is not the first time Indian entities have been caught in the crosshairs of US sanctions targeting Iran. Dozens of Indian companies and individuals have been targeted in earlier sanctions rounds related to Iran.

Official Statements from Washington

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a stark warning alongside the announcement. "Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise," Bessent said, framing the sanctions as part of a broader effort to dismantle the economic networks that enable the Revolutionary Guards' activities.

The Treasury Department's statement confirmed that both Skiez Travels and Air Cargo Pro Limited serve as general sales agents for Mahan Air in their respective countries, handling commercial operations on behalf of the sanctioned carrier. Mahan Air itself remains under both US and European Union sanctions.

Implications and What Comes Next

The designations mean that any assets held by the targeted entities under US jurisdiction are now frozen, and American persons and businesses are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. The sanctions also carry significant reputational risks that may prompt international banks and business partners to sever ties with the listed firms.

The Treasury Department has not indicated whether additional entities connected to Mahan Air's global commercial network are under investigation, though the coordinated targeting of agents across three countries suggests Washington is systematically mapping and disrupting the airline's international support infrastructure.