The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") designated Qeshm Fars Air (an Iranian airline), an Armenian general sales agent, and two Syria-based, Iran-backed militias.

Pursuant to Executive Order ("EO") 13224, OFAC designated:

  • Qeshm Fars Air for being owned or controlled by Mahan Air (also an Iranian airline) and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force ("IRGC-QF");
  • the Armenian general sales agent for "acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air by serving as a Mahan Air GSA in Armenia"; and
  • the two Syria-based, Iran-backed militias for providing material support to IRGC-QF.

Mahan Air was previously designated in October 2011 for playing a critical role in supporting the IRGC-QF and transporting personnel and weapons to Syria. IRGC-QF was previously designated in October 2007.

As a result of OFAC's action, all properties and interests in property of these entities that are in the U.S. "or in the possession or control of U.S. persons" are barred and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, OFAC noted that individuals who engage in certain transactions with the entities designated may be exposed to designation themselves. OFAC further stated that any foreign financial institution that "knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the entities designated today could be subject to U.S. correspondent account or payable-through sanctions."

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