U.S. Sanctions Aim to ‘Shut Down’ Iran’s Airlines, but This Boeing Plane Is Still Flying

The travelers speaking Persian at Ho Chi Minh City’s international airport last Monday dragged their bags toward an old Boeing 777 flying a new route — to and from Tehran. Many said they recognized it was a risky venture. The plane, owned by Mahan Air, Iran’s largest private carrier, is one of just a few still defying a widened American effort to isolate Iran with threats to punish any entity that engages with its airlines. And because previous sanctions have barred suppliers from selling parts or services to Mahan for years, the dangers are also mechanical. Iran’s aging aircraft — like the 23-year-old jetliner on the tarmac in southern Vietnam — are what sanctions experts often describe as “disasters waiting to happen.” Oman, Turkey and Iraq have stopped accepting Mahan’s flights. But not Vietnam, nor a few others. Recent stops for the 777 with tail sign EP-MTE also included Bangkok, Beijing and Moscow. “Even if you don’t want to think about it, the danger is in your mind,” said Amir, 66, an Iranian in a golf shirt who was leaving Ho Chi Minh City, sharing only his first name to avoid trouble in Tehran. “Hopefully we’ll land safely. Hopefully nothing will happen.” The story of Mahan Air’s old Boeing wide-body illustrates the risks that come with the Trump administration’s amplified campaign to make civil aviation a tool for coercion. In the aircraft’s travel record and reputation — pieced together with documents, tracking data and interviews with aviation and sanctions experts — there are warning lights aplenty. Alongside the potential danger for civilians are hints of Iranian resilience and third-party resistance that suggest American threats can only go so far when so many still rely on energy from the Middle East. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in . Want all of The Times? Subscribe .