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Bureau of Industry & Security

Office of Congressional and Public Affairs

BIS Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Monday, September 19, 2022 | Media Contact: [email protected]

Commerce Identifies Iranian Cargo Airlines For Apparent Violations Of U.S Export Controls


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), is updating its list of aircraft that have flown into Russia in apparent violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding the first three Iranian- owned and -operated aircraft providing cargo flight services on U.S.-origin aircraft to Russia.
There are now a total of 183 aircraft identified on the list for apparent violations of U.S. export controls.
“Our expansive controls, especially on items such as electronics and aircraft parts, have degraded Russia’s defense industrial base, severely restricted their access to the world economy, and isolated them from the international community,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “When Russia seeks to engage pariah states like Iran in order to backfill for what the international community has cut off, we will take action to thwart such attempts and disrupt such connections.”
Using commercially available data, BIS identified three Iranian cargo aircraft subject to the EAR flying and transporting goods, including electronic items, to Russia in apparent violation of BIS’s stringent export controls on Russia. These aircraft are operated by Mahan Air, Qeshm Fars Air, and Iran Air.

BIS continues to identify and take swift action against foreign airlines operating U.S.-origin aircraft in violation of U.S. export controls, including those that are aiding Russia’s ability to acquire the parts and inputs it needs to sustain its military aggression against Ukraine in violation of the EAR. Based on publicly available information there has been a significant increase in Iranian cargo flights to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moreover, Iran has publicly announced its intention to expand cooperation with Russia in the aviation sector by providing spare parts for its airplanes.

Any subsequent actions taken with regard to any of the listed aircraft, including, but not limited to, refueling, maintenance, repair, or the provision of spare parts or services, are subject to the prohibitions outlined in General Prohibition Ten of the EAR (15 C.F.R. § 736.2(b)(10)), which provides:
 
(10) General Prohibition Ten - Proceeding with transactions with knowledge that a violation has occurred or is about to occur (Knowledge Violation to Occur). You may not sell, transfer, export, reexport, finance, order, buy, remove, conceal, store, use, loan, dispose of, transport, forward, or otherwise service, in whole or in part, any item subject to the EAR and exported or to be exported with knowledge that a violation of the Export Administration Regulations, the Export Administration Act or any order, license, License Exception, or other authorization issued thereunder has occurred, is about to occur, or is intended to occur in connection with the item. Nor may you rely upon any license or License Exception after notice to you of the suspension or revocation of that license or exception. There are no License Exceptions to this General Prohibition Ten in part 740 of the EAR.

On February 24, 2022, BIS imposed expansive controls on aviation-related items to Russia, including a license requirement for the export, reexport or transfer (in-country) to Russia of any aircraft or aircraft parts on the Commerce Control List. Belarus was made subject to these restrictions on March 2, 2022. These restrictions apply to airplanes subject to the EAR bearing the livery, colors, or logo of an Iranian company/airline.

The airlines identified today are already subject to a variety of restrictions by the U.S. government for engagement in Iran’s consistent activity that is contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
Mahan Air has been on BIS’s Denied Persons List since March 2008 due to numerous significant, continuing, deliberate, and covert violations of the EAR. Moreover, a BIS-issued Temporary Denial Order (TDO) against Mahan Air remains in effect. Any named parties to the TDO, which further encompasses any related parties, agents, representatives, or those acting for or on their behalf, are broadly prohibited from directly or indirectly participating “in any way” in a transaction involving items subject to the EAR. The TDO also prohibits third parties from engaging in a broad range of conduct subject to the EAR with denied persons. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated Mahan Air pursuant to Executive Order 13224, a counterterrorism authority, for providing financial, material and technological support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). In 2019, the U.S. Department of State designated Mahan Air pursuant to Executive Order 13382 – which targets weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters.

OFAC also has designated Qeshm Fars Air pursuant to Executive Order 13224 in January 2019 for being owned or controlled by Mahan Air, and for providing material support to Iran’s IRGC- QF. Both Mahan Air and Qeshm Fars Air are identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). The EAR require a license to an SDGT of any item subject to the EAR absent separate authorization from OFAC.
Iran Air was added to BIS’s Entity List in March 2020 after it was determined that the airline transported military-related equipment on behalf of Iran's IRGC and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
 
The list below has been updated with additions in bold. Please note this list is not exhaustive, and the restrictions also apply in any situation in which a person has knowledge that a violation of the EAR has occurred, is about to occur, or is intended to occur in connection with an aircraft or other item that is subject to the EAR, whether or not such aircraft or other item is included on this list. This list will continue to be updated as circumstances warrant.

Additional BIS resources on export controls implemented in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are available at:
https://bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/country-guidance/Russia-b…
The public may submit confidential enforcement tips via the BIS website: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/component/rsform/form/14?task=forms.e…, or by calling the Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-424-2980.

These BIS actions were taken under the authority of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and the EAR.

For more information, visit www.bis.doc.gov.

 

UPDATED LIST AS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
(Additions in bold)

Owner or Operator    Country    Tail Number    Serial Number    Aircraft Type
Abramovich,
Roman    Russia    P4-BDL    37306    787-8 Dreamliner (B788)
Abramovich,
Roman    Russia    LX-RAY    6417    G650ER
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73094    41216    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73121    41203    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BCD / RA-73093    41215    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BCG / RA-73095    41217    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGG / RA-73096    41222    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGI / RA-73097    41223    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGN / RA-73098    41225    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73099    41239    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73100    44440    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BMB / RA-73103    41231    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73104    44443    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BMO / RA-73108    41233    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BNC / RA-73109    41234    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BON / RA-73112    41200    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BVP / RA-73122    41204    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BWA / RA-73123    41207    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BWC / RA-73125    41210    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73126    41214    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BWD / RA-73128    41211    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73104    44443    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73105    44433    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BMM / RA-73107    44439    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BNP / RA-73110    44438    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BNQ / RA-73111    44432    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BPF / RA-73113    44436    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73115    41196    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73116    41197    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73117    44442    737-8MC (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    RA-73118    41198    737-8LJ (B738)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BFC / RA-73141    65312    777-300 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BFK / RA-73158    65308    777-300 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BFL / RA-73146    65309    777-300 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BFN / RA-73143    65310    777-300 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BFO / RA-73142    65311    777-300 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGB / RA-73140    41679    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGC / RA-73139    41680    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
 
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGD / RA-73138    41681    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VP-BGF / RA-73137    41686    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQB / RA-73136    41687    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQC / RA-73130    41688    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQD / RA-73131    41682    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQE / RA-73132    41683    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQF / RA-73133    41684    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BQG / RA-73134    41689    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BUA / RA-73135    41685    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BUB / RA-73144    41690    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
Aeroflot    Russia    VQ-BUC / RA-73148    41691    777-3M0 (ER) (B77W)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BGZ    37580    747-8HV(F) (B748)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BLQ    37581    747-8HV(F) (B748)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BLR    37668    747-8HV(F) (B748)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BRH    37669    747-8HV(F) (B748)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BRJ    37670    747-8HV(F) (B748)
AirBridgeCargo    Russia    VQ-BVR    60687    747-8HV(F) (B748)
Alrosa    Russia    EI-FCH / RA-73266    32576    737-83N (B738)
Aviastar-TU    Russia    VQ-BBU / RA-73351    25696    757-223(PCF) (B752)
Aviastar-TU    Russia    VQ-BCB / RA-73556    27056    757-223(PCF) (B752)
Aviastar-TU    Russia    VQ-BKK / RA-73352    25731    757-223(PCF) (B752)
Aviastar-TU    Russia    VQ-BON / RA-73355    27054    757-223(PCF) (B752)
Aviastar-TU    Russia    VQ-BSX / RA-73354    27053    757-223(PCF) (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BYC / RA-73473    30338    757-231 (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BLV / RA-73076    30043    757-28A (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    RA-73029    26330    757-2K2 (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BEY / RA-73072    29382    757-2Q8 (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BIS / RA-73077    30045    757-2QB (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BEZ / RA-73071    29377    757-2QB (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BKB / RA-73074    26268    757-2QB (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BQA / RA-73073    30044    757-2QB (B752)
Azur Air    Russia    RA-73032    27614    767-306(ER)
Azur Air    Russia    RA-73034    27612    767-306(ER)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BRA / RA-73470    27477    767-33A(ER) (B763)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BEN / RA-73471    28140    767-33A(ER) (B763)
Azur Air    Russia    VQ-BUO    27909    767-33A(ER) (B763)
Azur Air    Russia    RA-73030    24746    767-3Q8(ER) (B763)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BUV / RA-73078    24745    767-3Q8(ER) (B763)
Azur Air    Russia    VP-BUX / RA-73079    24947    767-3Y0(ER) (B763)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-366PA    29058    737-31S (B733)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-254PA    26294    737-3Q8 (B733)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-527PA    40877    737-82R (B738)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-544PA    35139    737-8K5 (B738)
 
Belavia    Belarus    EW-455PA    61421    737-8ZM (B738)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-456PA    31422    737-8ZM (B738)
Belavia    Belarus    EW-457PA    61423    737-8ZM (B738)
I-Fly    Russia    EI-GOT / RA-73685    1021    A330-323 (A333)
I-Fly    Russia    EI-GPJ / RA-73686    0965    A330-323 (A333)
I-Fly    Russia    EI-GWF / RA-73684    1265    A330-323 (A333)
Iran Air    Iran    EP-ICD    24134    747-21AC (B742)
Mahan Airlines    Iran    EP-MEE    24383    747-422 (B744)

Nordstar    Russia    VP-BKT / RA-73259    28871    737-33R (B733)
Nordwind    Russia    VP-BJJ / RA-73347    32719    777-2Q8(ER) (B772)
Nordwind    Russia    VQ-BRT / RA-73326    7674    A321-231 (A321)
Nordwind    Russia    VP-BUA / RA-73328    0979    A330-223 (A332)
Pegas Fly    Russia    RA-73272    27608    777-2Q8(ER) (B772)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQC / RA-73226    64863    737-8AL (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    RA-73301    39950    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BFB / RA-73238    41219    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BGQ / RA-73242    41227    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BGR / RA-73243    41228    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BOD / RA-73248    41238    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BOH / RA-73234    41244    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHC / RA-73239    41220    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHD / RA-73240    41221    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHQ / RA-73241    41226    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHT / RA-73246    41235    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHU / RA-73244    41229    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BHW / RA-73249    41241    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BWG / RA-73235    41205    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VQ-BWH / RA-73236    41206    737-8LJ (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQB / RA-73225    64862    737-8MC (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQE / RA-73227    64864    737-8MC (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQH / RA-73229    64866    737-8MC (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQJ / RA-73230    64867    737-8MC (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQM / RA-73231    64868    737-8MC (B738)
Pobeda    Russia    VP-BQQ / RA-73232    64869    737-8MC (B738)
Qeshm Fars Air    Iran    EP-FAA    23502    747-281B (B742)
Red Wings    Russia    VP-BVT    2107    A321-231 (A321)
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BSR / RA-73191    33622    737-8AS (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BSS / RA-73193    33602    737-8AS (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VP-BOB / RA-73209    41236    737-8LJ (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VP-BOI / RA-73223    41224    737-8LJ (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BVU / RA-73189    41202    737-8LJ (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BVV / RA-73187    41201    737-8LJ (B738)
 
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BWJ / RA-73190    41212    737-8LJ (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VP-BUS / RA-73208    44435    737-8MC (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    VQ-BPX / RA-73218    35278    737-8Q8 (B738)
Rossiya    Russia    EI-XLE / RA-73285    26362    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    EI-XLF / RA-73286    27645    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    EI-XLH / RA-73288    27650    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    EI-XLJ / RA-73290    27646    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    RA-73283    27100    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    RA-73284    26360    747-446 (B744)
Rossiya    Russia    EI-UNL / RA-73279    28515    777-312 (B773)
Rossiya    Russia    RA-73282    28516    777-312 (B773)
Rossiya    Russia    RA-73292    28531    777-312 (B773)
Royal Flight    Russia    VQ-BTR    28171    757-28A (B752)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BVM / RA-73411    41400    737-8GJ (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BMG / RA-73672    41841    737-8LP (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BRK / RA-73671    41708    737-8LP (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BRQ / RA-73670    41710    737-8LP (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BRR / RA-73669    41836    737-8LP (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BKV / RA-73665    37084    737-8ZS (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BKW / RA-73664    37085    737-8ZS (B738)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VP-BWM / RA-73448    8852    A320-271N (A20N)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BRB / RA-72331    8367    A320-271N (A20N)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BDI / RA-73440    8103    A321-271N (A21N)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BDU / RA-73439    08088    A321-271N (A21N)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BGR / RA-73441    08571    A321-271N (A21N)
S7 Airlines    Russia    VQ-BDW / RA-73446    10540    A321-271NX (A21N)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VP-BDL / RA-73819    2343    A320-232 (A320)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VQ-BGI / RA-73817    5055    A320-232 (A320)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VQ-BGJ / RA-73818    2376    A320-232 (A320)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VP-BBH / RA-73842    2862    A321-231 (A321)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VP-BSW / RA-73798    7206    A321-231 (A321)
Ural Airlines    Russia    VP-BSY / RA-73797    7375    A321-231 (A321)
Utair    Russia    RA-73040    28917    727-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73038    27331    737-425 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73066    28474    737-45S (B734)
Utair    Russia    RA-73067    28476    737-45S (B734)
Utair    Russia    RA-73064    28549    737-46M (B734)
Utair    Russia    RA-73035    27315    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73041    28920    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73043    28626    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73044    28900    737-524 (B735)
 
Utair    Russia    RA-73045    28901    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73049    28906    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73061    28907    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73062    28908    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73063    27532    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    VP-BXY / RA-73037    27328    737-524 (B735)
Utair    Russia    RA-73085    32779    737-8AS (B738)
Utair    Russia    RA-73086    32780    737-8AS (B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BJF / RA-73084    32778    737-8AS(B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BJJ / RA-73087    29936    737-8AS(B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BQP / RA-73088    37553    737-8GU (B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BQQ / RA-73089    37552    737-8GU (B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BQR / RA-73090    36386    737-8GU (B738)
Utair    Russia    VQ-BQS / RA-73091    36387    737-8GU (B738)
Utair    Russia    VP-BAG / RA-73081    30435    767-224(ER) (B762)
Utair    Russia    VP-BAI/ RA-73082    30437    767-224(ER) (B762)
Yamal Airlines    Russia    VP-BCN/RA-73691    1993    A320-232 (A320)
Yamal Airlines    Russia    VQ-BSM / RA-73310    01967    A321-231 (A321)
Yamal Airlines    Russia    VQ-BSQ / RA-73689    1956    A321-231 (A321)

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