A Democratic leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is demanding that the Obama administration end its efforts to help airline giant Boeing finalize a landmark deal to sell aircraft to Iran, warning that the sale is likely to benefit the Islamic Republic’s global terrorism campaign, according to communications obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D., Calif.), one of a handful of Democratic leaders to oppose last summer’s nuclear deal with Iran, is petitioning senior Obama administration officials to block Boeing’s $27 billion deal with Iran Air, which was long sanctioned by the U.S. government for aiding Iran’s illicit nuclear program. These sanctions were lifted by the Obama administration as part of the nuclear accord.
Boeing’s deal with Iran requires approval from the Obama administration, which has been waging a public and private campaign to help businesses skirt sanctions violations in their business dealings with Iran.
Sherman warns that the U.S. aircraft maker’s planes are likely to be used by Iran to support terrorism operations and its campaign to bolster embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a letter sent Wednesday by Sherman to the Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury.
"As you know Iran Air’s partner, the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps], remains under sanction itself," Sherman writes in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Free Beacon. "Separately, the IRGC’s expeditionary arm, the Quds Force, was designated … for support of terrorism."
Iran Air is still involved in carrying out operations on the IRGC’s behalf, according to Sherman, who disclosed that the official Iranian airline has been spotted running arms to Assad in Syria.
The nuclear deal "did not affect the status of the IROC or the IRGC-Quds Force, and for good reason—they remain deeply involved in proliferation and terrorism," Sherman writes. "It is almost certain that Iran Air continues to support the IRGC and the Quds Force. Tracking information shows that Iran Air aircraft have recently traveled between Abadan and Damascus, a route whose principal purpose is to transit arms and materiel to forces loyal to Syria’s president Bashar Assad."
Iran also has been known to use civilian aircraft to support terrorism operations, Sherman writes.
"In addition to support for Assad, Iran has a penchant for direct sponsorship of terrorism. At times, the Iranians have found it convenient to use civil aircraft to assist in these operations," the letter states.
The Democratic lawmaker also remains concerned that Iran will use Boeing planes to procure illicit arms and transport IRGC-backed forces.
"Iran Air could also serve as a procurement front for sanctioned entities, and/or for Iran’s military or the IRGC’s armed forces," Sherman writes. "Just last year, Iran’s Mahan Air, a designated airline also linked to the IRGC, used a non-designated Iraqi entity to successfully evade export controls and sanctions policies to acquire several Airbus passenger aircraft. Until Iran gets out of the business of supporting terrorism and supporting Assad’s regime in Syria, the United Stales should not license the sale of aircraft to Iran Air. It is virtually certain that Iran Air will use these aircraft for nefarious purposes."
Iran’s status as the foremost state-sponsor of terrorism in the world should be motive enough for the Obama administration to block the sale, according to Sherman.
"The agencies under your control should not license transfers of aircraft to Iran Air at this time and for the foreseeable future," he tells the administration, reminding officials that the United States sanctioned Iran Air in 2011 "for providing material support to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps."
"There is absolutely no reason to believe that the conduct for which Iran Air was designated has actually stopped," he adds.
The Obama administration’s efforts to boost Iran’s economy have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.
The Free Beacon disclosed on Wednesday that top lawmakers have designated the White House as the Islamic Republic’s chief global "lobbying shop."