Mahan Air Defies Sanctions with New Boeing 777 Fleet

Mahan Air, an Iranian airline heavily sanctioned since 2011, has been growing its Boeing 777 fleet in 2026. Three of these aircraft have already joined the airline this year: EP-MTE (MSN 33369) arrived in January, EP-MTB (MSN 28527) followed in February, and EP-MTA completed the trio in July.

These American-built widebodies were previously operated by Singapore Airlines and later by NokScoot before being placed into long-term storage. They were acquired by Ion Aviation LLC in late 2023 and moved to Lanzhou in China, where they sat until March 2024 before being exported to Hong Kong.

The aircraft took a circuitous route to Iran, passing through Jakarta, Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Madagascar before landing at Chabahar, Zahedan, and Mashhad airports. Two more Boeing 777s are waiting in the wings, including EP-MTD, which is still carrying its Malagasy registration.

The arrival of these aircraft highlights the challenges facing US sanctions on Iran's aviation sector. With weakly supervised registries in countries like Madagascar and The Gambia providing a legitimate identity for aircraft, it becomes easier to evade detection and enforcement actions. Moreover, the 777-200ER is being retired globally, creating a steady stream of mature widebodies moving through the secondary market.

The consequences of these sanctions are far-reaching, with Iranian airspace effectively shut down for nearly two months after US and Israeli strikes in February. While Mahan Air can continue to operate its fleet, its international network may shrink as foreign airports and fuel suppliers become increasingly hesitant to deal with sanctioned airlines.