Congressman Keith Self Introduces Resolution Urging European Allies to Sanction Iranian Airlines and Deny Them Airport Access

Congressman Keith Self introduced a resolution urging members of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to refuse airport access to Iranian airlines. The United States has imposed sanctions on several Iranian airlines and members of the EU and NATO should follow suit by applying their own sanctions.

The United States sanctions include Mahan Air, Iran Air, Saha Airlines, Qeshm Air, and Qeshm Fars Air because they are complicit in Iran’s role as the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran exported drones to Russia under the condition that they be used in planned terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Then, on September 27, 2022, Russian military forces fired at least ten Iranian Shahad-136 model drones over the Ukrainian city of Uman, where tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews were making an annual pilgrimage for Rosh Hashanah. Additionally, Mahan Air, Iran Air, and Qeshm Air were also used to ship fighters and weapons to bolster the Syrian administration of Bashar al-Assad at the height of the regime’s repression.

Many of our European allies are not only failing to apply adequate pressure but are also neglecting to abide by pre-existing U.S. sanctions. Iranian airlines that are sanctioned by the U.S. reportedly operate in at least 24 airports across Eurasia, most of which are in NATO and EU countries.

“Our friends in NATO and the EU not only risk exposure to sanctions imposed by the United States, but also have a duty to keep their people and airports safe,” said Congressman Keith Self. “If left unchecked, these airlines could endanger lives by

introducing dangerous materials into civilian airports. It’s crucial we make our allies aware of this issue and urge them to join the United States in deterring Iranian bad actors.”

The resolution has garnered widespread support and is endorsed by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), and is supported by United Against a Nuclear Iran Action (UANI Action).

“United Against Nuclear Iran Action strongly supports the House Resolution [by Rep. Self]. Iran uses its airliners to proliferate terrorism, transport drones to Russia for attacks against civilians in Ukraine including Israeli Jews, and used such planes to send arms and fighters to support the Assad regime’s commission of genocide in Syria. It’s past time for European and NATO countries to deny access to their airports to Iranian airliners. We thank Congressman Self for sponsoring this legislation and urge the House to pass it.”

“Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) applauds this congressional effort to hold the Iranian regime accountable. Mahan Air is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is an important instrument of the regime's international terrorism and brutal oppression of the Iranian people. As we always say, the head of the snake is in Tehran.”

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