As the US continues to take action against Mahan Air’s sales agents around the world, an open-source investigation shows that the Iranian carrier’s probable sales point in Lebanon’s capital has an indirect link to an alleged Hezbollah facilitation network.
Mahan Air’s website lists the airline’s General Sales Agent in Beirut as “Sky Gift Office,” with an unclear address in southern Beirut.
A search of Lebanon’s online corporate register yields one probable result, Sky Gift Co. Ltd., with an address in southern Beirut. The firm is registered to conduct travel and tourism activities, including the sale of tickets.
Sky Gift Co. Ltd.’s registered attorney also serves in the same role for a number of firms involving alleged Hezbollah financiers, including Golden Fish S.A.L. (Offshore), according to Lebanon’s online corporate register. Sky Gift Co. Ltd.’s registered attorney also serves as the attorney for a number of firms involving alleged Hezbollah financiers, including Golden Fish S.A.L. (Offshore), according to Lebanon’s online corporate register.
Golden Fish S.A.L. was sanctioned by the US in February 2018 for allegedly being part of a Hezbollah financial network in Africa.
The US has moved against Mahan Air’s GSAs around the world. On December 11, 2019, Washington placed three of the Iranian carrier’s GSAs in Hong Kong and the UAE on its sanctions list.
“These designations follow previous designations in 2018 and 2019 of Mahan Air GSAs and provide another warning to the international aviation community of the sanctions risk for individuals and entities that choose to maintain commercial relationships with Mahan Air,” the US Treasury Department said in its press release.
