Germany has banned an Iranian airline from operating within the country after strong pressure from the U.S., which accused the airline of helping send fighters and weapons to Syria.
“Today, after months of pressing, the German government took action against Mahan Air to deny them landing rights in Germany. Mahan Air is an airline no country should feel safe letting land on its soil,” Richard A. Grenell, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, told The Wall Street Journal.
“The United States fully supports Germany’s leadership on this issue, and calls on other capitals to end Mahan Air’s access too, particularly in light of the Iranian regime’s egregious actions in Europe.”
Mahan Air only operated three flights per week, from Tehran to Düsseldorf and Munich, and Iran Air, which is the country’s main airline, continues to operate in Germany.
“The German decision is based on our own consideration of our security interests,” a government spokesperson told the Journal.
The newspaper also reports that American officials have shared intelligence on Mahan Air, including footage that has been released online that appears to show Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which have been active in Syria among other regions, getting onto Mahan Air flights.
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