Mahan Air Flight Lands In China Despite US Threat

BEIJING: (News Desk) – A commercial flight operated by Iranian airline Mahan Air landed in southern China on Wednesday, despite a US warning that Iranian carriers would face a global shutdown and countries providing them with services could face sanctions.

Flight IRM093 arrived in Guangzhou at 4:39pm local time, according to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. The aircraft’s reported destination was Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, although the flight was not listed on the airport’s official website.

The development came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that countries providing Iranian aircraft with landing services could face serious financial consequences.

Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Bessent said Iranian airlines would be “shut down around the world” from September 23. He also warned that providing fuel, landing services or ticketing facilities to the carriers could result in exclusion from the US dollar financial system.

However, Mahan Air’s operations in China appeared to continue. AFP reported that staff at the airline’s Shanghai office said Wednesday they had received no notification about flight cancellations and that tickets for flights during the following week remained available.

The US Treasury did not immediately respond to an AFP request for clarification regarding Bessent’s remarks and their implementation.

Iranian airlines operate regular direct flights to several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, making China an important destination for Iran’s commercial aviation sector.