Lead
The United States has sanctioned six entities and individuals, including two China-based companies, a Chinese executive, and an India-based travel firm, for allegedly supporting Iran's Mahan Air. The U.S. Treasury Department announced the measures on Thursday, targeting companies operating as general sales agents for the airline, which Washington says has long supported Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The action was the second consecutive day that Washington targeted mainland China- or Hong Kong-linked businesses accused of supporting Tehran, broadening its pressure campaign from Iranian oil shipments to aviation, travel, and cargo services, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Coverage Comparison
Two outlets covered the story. The South China Morning Post focused on the two China-based companies and the Chinese executive, framing the sanctions as part of a broader U.S. pressure campaign. The Hindu's World section reported the sanctions as affecting six entities and individuals, including the India-based Skiez Travels, and emphasized U.S. efforts to disrupt the IRGC's activities.
Both outlets noted that the Treasury Department identified the designated parties as general sales agents of Mahan Air, which the U.S. described as the IRGC's "airline of choice" for transporting weapons, military personnel, and equipment. The Hindu's report included a statement from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said that those providing support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are "helping sustain a terrorist enterprise."
Key Claims
According to the South China Morning Post, the Treasury Department said Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co served as a general sales agent for Mahan Air and coordinated the transportation of electronics from China to Iran. The outlet also reported that the company's managing director, Tang Xin, was sanctioned for coordinating travel for the Iranian carrier.
Tang Xin is also the executive director and 50 percent owner of Shanghai Elite International Travel Co, which represents Mahan Air in China, according to the Treasury Department. The travel company was designated because of its ownership and links to Tang, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
The Hindu reported that Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited, which has offices in Srinagar and Delhi, said on its website that it started representing Mahan Airways as its general sales agent in 2020. The Treasury Department said that although Mahan Air presents itself as a civilian carrier, the airline has long supported the IRGC by providing travel for IRGC-Quds Force personnel, facilitating military training, and aiding the movement of unmanned aerial vehicle systems and weapons.
The Hindu also reported that the Treasury Department designated DadeNegar Startup Studio as a front company affiliated with the IRGC, supporting military targeting through the use of a website. The Treasury Department said DadeNegar solicited locations of American and Israeli equipment to support Iranian military operations.
Other general sales agents of Mahan Air, as identified by the Treasury Department and reported by The Hindu, include Russia-based Air Cargo Pro Limited.
The sanctions freeze any assets the designated parties hold in the United States or under U.S. control and generally bar Americans from doing business with them, according to the South China Morning Post. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions on their behalf could also face secondary sanctions.
Perspectives
The U.S. Treasury Department, through Secretary Scott Bessent, stated that those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a "terrorist enterprise." Bessent said the department will continue to identify, expose, and cut off such supporters from the U.S. financial system.
The designated companies have not publicly commented on the sanctions in the provided material.