Germany sanctions Iranian airline Mahan Air over spying claims

Germany decided to sanction an Iranian airline on suspicion of spying and terror, in an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union against Iran over attacks on opponents in the bloc

Following European countries' efforts to impose punitive measures against Iran for thwarted attacks and assassination attempts against Iranian opposition, Germany decided to sanction an Iranian airline over spying claims.

Berlin has revoked Iranian airline Mahan's right to operate in Germany, a senior government source told Reuters Monday, giving both safety concerns and the suspicion that the airline was being used for military purposes as reasons. The government suspects the airline, which has been on a United States sanctions list since 2011, is used for military purposes by Iran's Revolutionary Guards as well as for terrorist activities.

"The Federal Aviation Office (LBA) will this week suspend the operating license of Iranian airline Mahan," reported Munich-based daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Mahan, Iran's second-largest carrier after Iran Air, flies four services a week between Tehran and the German cities Duesseldorf and Munich.

Iran has dismissed allegations by German prosecutors that an army employee was spying for Tehran. The semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as saying that "enemies" were aiming to "sour relations" between Iran and Europe. He appeared to be referring to the United States and Israel, which have pressed European nations to withdraw from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.....More