Iran says US planned blocking of new planes “illegal”
PRESSTV Sun May 24, 2015 6:16PM
http://presstv.com/Detail/2015/05/24/412670/Iran-US-Planes-Sanctions-Mahan-Air

Iran has criticized the US for a planned blockade of the air travels of its
newly purchased planes.

Iran on Sunday criticized the United States for a planned blockade of the
air travels of its newly purchased planes, saying the move will be against
international laws.

Mohammad Khoda-Karami, the deputy head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization
(CAO), has told the media that Iran has purchased the new planes based on
its own sovereign rights.

“Iran will never wait for the permission of any country for exercising its
legitimate rights,” said Khoda-Karami.

Iran's media announced earlier this month that Mahan Air has added a number
of new planes to its fleet.

The US Treasury Department in reaction to this said in a statement last
Thursday that it has sanctioned parties involved in the reported plane
purchase scheme.

The Treasury Department also said the purchased aircraft by Mahan Air –
which it has sanctioned three times since 2011 – have been designated as
“blockable” interests, making it risky for the airline to fly them on
international routes.

In reaction to this, Khoda-Karami has emphasized that the US sanctions
against Iran's aviation industry lack any legal basis.

He said the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation prohibits
member countries from using their air fleet for any purpose that would be
against the terms of the Convention.

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