One of the companies included in new US sanctions against Iran is Dena Airways, a small-fry operation that owns a single jet.
The US Treasury Department has announced a set of new sanctions against Iran that target several Iranian airlines, accusing them of providing services to “terrorists” and delivering proxy forces to Syria and Lebanon.
In a statement made Thursday, the US Treasury said the companies are being designated for sanctions based on a 2001 presidential executive order designed “to impede terrorist funding.”
Dena Airways is among them.
The fleet of Dena Airways consists of a single plane: an Airbus A340.
Dena's plane is used by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for international travel. Basically, this is the Iranian “Air Force One.”
The airline was created after the US sanctioned another Tehran carrier, Meraj Air, in November 2017.
With the new sanctions, Dena Airways might not be able to operate its A340, “as ground handling companies worldwide may refuse to refuel/service the aircraft,” according to Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the website Bourse Bazaar.
The Iranian government has not yet reacted to this development. However, Trita Parsi, executive director of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), wrote on social media: “So what's Trump's aim? Humiliate Iran's moderates and strengthen its hardliners.”
“Weakening the moderates makes it easier to start war,” he added.
The new sanctions add a total of 31 aircraft…
