U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) led a congressional call on Wednesday for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to investigate reports that Iran used commercial aircraft to transport militants into Syria.
Roskam also called for Air Iran, the alleged transporting airline, to be re-sanctioned if it’s found that Iran-backed militants or military supplies were flown into Syria on commercial planes after enactment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Air Iran was sanctioned in 2011 for supporting military and terrorist activities with commercial aircraft.
The letter, which was signed by U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and Dave Reichert (R-WA), included photos taken in 2016 and 2017 of militants aboard a commercial aircraft and on Syrian battlefields.
“These photos seem to display militiamen sitting on seats clearly labeled with the Iran Air logo,” the letter states. “These individuals are not Afghani civilians; they are believed to be members of an Iranian-backed militia, trained and funded by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, actively fighting for the Assad regime in Syria.”
In January, Roskam introduced related legislation, the Terror Free Skies Act, H.R. 566, which would require the president to report on Iran’s use of commercial aircraft for military and other illicit activities. The bill has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced companion legislation, S. 420, in February that has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Iran’s use of commercial aircraft for military purposes violates international agreements as well as Iranian commitments under the JCPOA,” according to the congressmen’s letter. Taken independently, the photos mandate a thorough investigation, the congressmen added.
And during this investigation, the United States should suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to Iran, the representatives wrote.