Mahan Air Flight Lands in China Defying US Sanctions

A Mahan Air commercial flight from Tehran landed in Guangzhou, China, on Wednesday, September 23, at 4:39 p.m. local time. The flight defied a new pressure campaign launched by the United States to shut down Iranian airlines worldwide.

Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, warned that any entities providing fuel, landing services, or ticket sales to Iranian carriers could be barred from the U.S. dollar system. Despite these threats, the flight appeared on tracking data, although it was notably absent from the official website of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

The Government of China rejected the U.S. measures. The Chinese Foreign Ministry characterized the unilateral sanctions as lacking a legal basis under international law. Mahan Air staff in Shanghai reported that no flights had been cancelled and tickets for the following week remained available for purchase.