At least 83 flights by US-sanctioned Iranian carriers land in Turkey
Summary
At least 83 flights operated by US-sanctioned Iranian carriers landed in Turkey between September 23 and September 27, following a recent US sanctions deadline aimed at limiting their operations. A report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies highlighted that flights arrived in cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara from twelve different sanctioned airlines, including Iran Airtour and Caspian Airlines, which each had 12 landings. Notably, eight of these airlines had been designated by the US Treasury on September 8 due to concerns that Iran’s aviation sector facilitates the transport of weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo. Additionally, it was revealed that FUGO Ground Services maintained direct service agreements with these sanctioned airlines at Turkish airports, indicating ongoing operational support despite the sanctions.