US Department of Treasury Blacklists Indian Travel Agency Over Mahan Air Connections
The United States has imposed sanctions on six entities, including India-based Skiez Travels, for allegedly supporting Iran's Mahan Air. Treasury officials claim the network facilitated logistics and financial services for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Key takeaways
- The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Skiez Travels, an Indian firm with offices in Delhi and Srinagar, for its role as a sales agent for Mahan Air.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the move aims to cut off financial and commercial support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Entities in China and Russia, including Shanghai Wings and Air Cargo Pro, were also blacklisted for providing logistics to the Iranian airline.
- The IRGC-affiliated DadeNegar Startup Studio was identified as a front company used for gathering military intelligence on U.S. and Israeli targets.
- Mahan Air is accused of using its civilian status to transport weapons, UAV systems, and IRGC-Quds Force personnel.
The Network Behind the Sanctions
On July 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced a new wave of sanctions targeting entities that serve as general sales agents for Mahan Air. Among those designated is Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited, an Indian firm with operations in Delhi and Srinagar. According to Treasury officials, these commercial partners provide the logistical backbone for an airline that ostensibly operates as a civilian carrier while masking its role in military operations.
Logistics for the IRGC
Washington asserts that Mahan Air acts as a primary transport mechanism for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF). The U.S. government maintains that the airline facilitates the movement of weapons, unmanned aerial vehicle systems, and military personnel. "Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the IRGC or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist enterprise," stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The sanctions effectively bar these entities from accessing the U.S. financial system.
Global Reach and Front Companies
The crackdown extends beyond India to include facilitators in China and Russia. The Treasury identified the following international entities in the scheme:
- Shanghai Wings International Logistics Co: A China-based firm that coordinated electronics shipments to Iran.
- Shanghai Elite International Travel Co: Represented by Managing Director Tang Xin, who owns 50 percent of the firm and manages Mahan Air travel.
- Air Cargo Pro Limited: A Russia-based general sales agent.
- DadeNegar Startup Studio: Classified as an IRGC front company that utilized a website to solicit the locations of American and Israeli equipment to assist Iranian military targeting.
Skiez Travels has acknowledged on its corporate website that it began its tenure as the general sales agent for Mahan Airways in 2020. The Treasury Department emphasized that the IRGC utilized DadeNegar to receive strike requests for targets located across West Asia.
Source: The Hindu — World
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