A 23-year-old Boeing 777 operated by Mahan Air, Iran’s largest private carrier, continues to fly international routes despite intensified U.S. sanctions aimed at isolating Iranian airlines. The aircraft, bearing tail sign EP-MTE, recently launched new flights between Tehran and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a country that has not joined neighboring nations like Oman, Turkey, and Iraq in banning Mahan Air. Passengers, including Iranian travelers, acknowledged the risks, with one man, Amir, 66, expressing concern over safety amid the airline’s aging fleet.
Analysts describe such planes as "disasters waiting to happen" due to restricted access to parts and services under sanctions. The new routes to Bangkok, Beijing, and Moscow reflect Iran’s strategy to maintain aviation links while leveraging energy diplomacy, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. Countries like China, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam continue to host Mahan flights, partly to secure future energy access and avoid alignment with U.S. policy.
China, a critic of American unilateral sanctions, has expanded flights to Tehran. While some passengers travel via packaged tours for family visits and relief from domestic strain, experts caution that the flights may serve broader strategic goals beyond tourism. Mahan Air has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since 2011 for alleged dual-use violations.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing