Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Khatib: We will reveal the documents soon.
Khatib: The operation was carried out some time ago, but we preferred to delay announcing the news to ensure the operation’s safety.
Khatib: We are refraining from revealing the methods used to transfer the documents at this time.
Khatib: The methods used to transfer the documents into Iran are just as important as the documents themselves.
Minister Khatib: We obtained additional documents that enhance Iran’s offensive capabilities.
Minister Khatib: We obtained complete nuclear documents and documents concerning “Israel’s” relations with Western countries and the United States.
Minister Khatib: What we obtained is truly a highly important intelligence treasure, strategically, operationally, and practically.
Minister Khatib: What happened is a very significant intelligence event, and it cannot be reduced to merely obtaining thousands of documents.
Minister Khatib: The documents we acquired were safely transferred to Iran.
Minister Khatib: The Ministry of Intelligence has obtained a treasure trove of strategic, operational, and tactical information.

How US sanctions crippled Iran's aviation sector: FT

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Financial Times
  • 21 May 2024 20:26
4 Min Read

Iran has been unable to update its fleet or get spare parts and maintenance contracts for years due to Western sanctions on Iranian institutions and export prohibitions on aerospace items.

Listen
  • x
  •   How sanctions played havoc with Iran’s ageing helicopters
    In this photo provided by Moj News Agency, rescue members work at the scene of a crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan in northern Iran on May 20, 2024 (AP)

It is still unclear what made the US-made Bell 212 helicopter carrying Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister crash into a mountaintop near the Azerbaijan border on Sunday.

However, analysts and former officials believe Iran's need for spare parts for its air force due to US and Western sanctions may be to blame.

Earlier Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the US aviation sanctions, including against Iran, and the ban on the supply of spare parts, of putting people at risk and harming ordinary citizens. 

Ali Ansari, founder of the Institute of Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews told the Financial Times that Iran's air fleet is "old and should not be able to keep flying."

Iran has been unable to update its fleet or get spare parts and maintenance contracts for years due to Western sanctions on Iranian institutions and export prohibitions on aerospace items.

Civilian airliners in the country include a few Airbus A300s, which were no longer built more than a decade ago. Cirium, an aviation statistics organization, reports that the average age of operating planes in its passenger fleet is about 28 years, more than double the global average. Iran Air, the national airline, still operates an A300 that is approximately 40 years old.

Rob Morris, head of Cirium’s consultancy business Ascend, explains that the older the aircraft, the less reliable, detailing how "this is reflected in the average utilization, which at an average of 4.8 hours per day is around half the global average."

Some Western sanctions were removed after Iran accepted the 2015 nuclear agreement with international powers, and Tehran signed contracts worth more than $40 billion with Boeing and Airbus to renew its fleet.

Related News

Iranian security minister reveals major intelligence haul on 'Israel'

Pope Leo criticizes rise of nationalism, urges open borders and unity

However, that joy was short-lived as Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and slapped hundreds more sanctions. 

Carlos Cesnik, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan explained that BELL 212 and 412 have good safety records, “But in any accident, operating conditions must be taken into account, with weather and maintenance being at the top of the list.” 

According to Cirium, Iran now operates 62 Bell helicopters, 13 of which are Bell 212 models. Open-source intelligence experts think the wrecked helicopter had the registration number 6-9207, indicating that it was handed to the Iranian Air Force as early as 1994.

According to Daniel Martin, a financial and trade sanctions partner at law firm HFW, replacement components for technical systems on the Bell helicopter would very probably have been subject to US, UK, and European export restrictions.

Cesnik noted that although helicopters are safer than cars, they are still less safe than planes according to the National Transportation Safety Board), they continue to be a crucial part of military travel in many nations.

In February, the United States National Guard temporarily grounded all of its helicopters following two crashes in a month. A navy helicopter crashed in Malaysia last month, killing ten crew members, and another tragedy killed Kenya's highest-ranking military commander.

Russian helicopters deployed by Colombia's military forces have also had several recent mishaps, most recently a deadly one that killed 9 soldiers. 

A helicopter carrying Iranian sports minister Hamid Sajjadi crashed last year while attempting to land on a football field. He survived, but his assistant died, and twelve people were injured. Five months later, a training plane crashed west of Iran, killing two.

Iran's former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, blamed US sanctions for the latest disaster and Raisi's death. "These will be recorded in the list of America's crimes against the Iranian people," he declared.

  • United States
  • Iran
  • Sanctions on Iran
  • Ebrahim Raisi
  • Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-chief--nato-likely-to-back-trump-s-5--defence-spend
Politics

Europe spent $3 trillion on defense, but got little in return - FT

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein: Telegraph
Europe

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein - The Telegraph

Eilat port as seen from the sea, occupied Palestine, March 12 2009 (wikimedia commons)
Politics

YAF operations forced 80% plunge in Eilat port revenues in 2024

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges
Europe

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS