France Stops Iran’s Mahan Air Flights under US Pressure: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – France joined a growing number of governments in blocking flights by Iranian carrier Mahan Air as the US stepped up its campaign to squeeze Iran’s economy, two people familiar with the matter said.
Mahan, which the US contends has links to Iran’s military forces, flew four flights a week to France’s Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, according to its website.
The move was a priority for the Trump administration, according to one of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the decision before France makes a formal announcement, the Bloomberg reported on Saturday.
France’s decision to deny landing rights to Mahan follows a similar move by Germany in January.
After Germany’s action, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo sent a tweet encouraging other allies to follow suit.
Al-Monitor, a publication that covers the Middle East, reported this week that the French ban would take effect on April 1, citing an email received from the airline by a passenger who’d booked a flight to Paris.
The State Department declined to comment on France’s Mahan Air cutoff. Iranian officials and executives of the airline weren’t available to comment, with most offices in Tehran closed for the Nowruz new year holiday, according to the report.