Press TV - The new US sanctions against a number of Iranian airlines will fail to hinder the country's aviation industry because Tehran is well-equipped to work around them, says Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO.IRI).
"The issue of sanctions has been around for years in different forms but the aviation industry has managed it," Reza Jafarzadeh, a CAO spokesman, told Iran's state news agency IRNA on Friday.
"Ignoring the US sanctions, Iran will use its past experiences to keep its aviation industry thriving," he added.
On Thursday, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions against nine Iranian and Turkish individuals and companies as well as a number of aircraft providing goods and services to four Iranian airlines.
The Department claimedin a statement that the banned entities extended a lifeline to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
The entities are accused of procuring jet engines and airplane parts for previously blacklisted Iranian airlines Mahan Air, Caspian Air, Meraj Air, and Pouya Air.
The US Treasury accused the airlines of moving weapons, troops and money to Iran's allies in Syria and Lebanon.
The move by Washington was part of President Donald Trump's plans to impose harsh sanctions against Tehran after pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Many countries, including America's European allies, have said that they would not back Trump's new plan.
The UK, France and Germany-- all signatories to the deal-- are already in talks with Iran to protect their businesses from possible punishment by the US.
Russia and China have also expressed willingness to back the deal and even fill the void should any European companies leave Iranian markets.
