The U.S. Department of Justice has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane owned by a Venezuelan company, which allegedly was previously owned by an Iranian company linked to the Revolutionary Guard. The department stated: "The Department of Justice has executed the seizure of a Boeing 747 cargo plane manufactured in the United States, which was previously owned by the sanctioned Iranian airline Mahan Air, associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard designated as a terrorist organization."
It noted that "the plane arrived in Florida from Argentina, where it had been located since its detention at Washington's request in October 2022. A court order for its delivery to the United States was issued in May of last year."
The statement mentioned that "the Venezuelan air cargo company EMTRASUR purchased the plane from Iranian Mahan Air, in violation of U.S. sanctions. The U.S. claims that despite the change of ownership, the plane remained under the command of a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that from February to May 2022, in violation of U.S. export restrictions, the plane flew between Caracas, Moscow, and Tehran."
