Iran airlines cannot buy Western aircraft equipped with US parts as a result of US sanctions.
Between 2011 and 2016, Iran Air and other Iranian airlines were sanctioned under US Executive Orders 13382 (which aims to isolate financially proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters) and 13224 (issued as a response to the 9/11 attacks to curb terrorist financing and activities). To keep airlines flying parts and aircraft are smuggled into the country. More info here.
This is an overviw of aircraft which, using various tricks, ended up in the fleet of Iranian airlines.
March 2013
EY-631 an Airbus A320 of Asian Express Airline went in the same month as Asian Express bought te aircraft to Qeshm Airlines. Also EY-333 and EY-632 followed the same trick.
May 2013
Four former Onur Air A300-600 aircraft were ferried at May 18, 2013 from Kiev to Tehran. The new registrations were EP-FQK, FWM, FQN and FQO. (source)
May 2015
Iraqi Al Naser Airlines helped procure airplanes for Mahan Air, including eight Airbus A340 planes and one Airbus A320 aircraft.
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 391, tail number EP-MMH of Mahan Air , manufacture date 2002. Former Hi fly Malta
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 449, last known tail number YI-NAE, manufacture date 2002. Former Hi Fly Malta . Now EP-MMQ of Mahan Air
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 416, last known tail number YI-NAD, manufacture date 2002. former HiFly Malta, Mahan Air, now YV3535 of Conviasa
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 371, last known tail number YI-NAC, manufacture date 2001. Now EP-MME of Mahan Air
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 376, last known tail number YI-NAB, manufacture date 2002/ Former Mahan Air, now YV3533 of Conviasa
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 383, last known tail number YI-NAA, manufacture date 2002. Former HiFly Malta, now EP-MMG of Mahan air
Aircraft: A340-642, MSN 615, last known tail number G-VSSH, manufacture date 2004. Former Virgin Atlantic. now EP-MMR of Mahan Air
Aircraft: A340-313X, MSN 164, last known tail number G-VAIR, manufacture date 1997. Ex Virgin, now EP-MMD of Mahan Air.
Aircraft: A321-131, MSN 550, last known tail number 2-WGLP, manufacture date 1995. Now EP-MMZ of Mahan Air.
September 2015
EY-680 an Airbus A340 entered the fleet of Tajikistan Asian Express Airline. Shortly after the aircraft became EP-AJA Islamic Republic of Iran
February 2018
Three Airbus A319 aircraft arrived at Mashhad Airport (OIMM/MHD) from Budapest
Airbus A319 EY-557 owned by Asia Sky Lines was transfered to Tehran Air as EP-THD . It was operated by Maltese Hyperion Aviation before Asia Sky purchased the aircraft. In December 2020 the aircraft went to Iran air as EP-IEQ
Airbus A319 EY-558 owned by Asia Sky Lines was transfered to Tehran Air as EP-THE . It was operated by Maltese Hyperion Aviation before Asia Sky purchased the aircraft. In December 2020 the aircraft went to Iran air as EP-IER
Airbus A319 EY-559 owned by Asia Sky Lines was transfered to Tehran Air as EP-THF. It was operated by Maltese Hyperion Aviation before Asia Sky purchased the aircraft. In January 2020 the aircraft went to Iran air as EP-IEP
January 2020
Airbus A310 -325 644 EY-707 Asian Express Airline was ferried 23jan20 fro Tashkent to Tehran ex Uzbekistan Airways UK31002. Became EP-TOA of Toos Airline. Now EP-MEC of Mahan air.
April 2020
Toos Airline of Iran registered a Airbus A310 EP-TOA. This used to be EY-705 of Asia Sky Lines. This purchased the aircraft of Uzbekistan Airways which stored the aircraft in 2013. The aircraft is now EP-MEC of Mahan Air and operated multiple daily flights between Iranian cities.
August 2020
Mahan Air recieved Airbus A310 EP-MED. This is former EY-704 owned by Asia Sky Lines. Which purchased the aircraft of Uzbekstan Airways which had the aircraft stored since 2013. Mahan Air nowadays operates the aircraft daily on flight to Tehran, Baghad and Lahore as well as on domestic flights.
February 21, 2021
Fly Armenia’s B737-300 EK-FAA was planned to fly from Kiev to the UAE for maintenance. However it declared an emergency and landed at Tehran airport. At that time it was believed the aircaft was acquired by Caspian Airlines. However the aircraft was flown at 23 Apr 2021 to Yerevan in Armenia.
December 4, 2022
EY-706, an Airbus A310-300 purchased by Asia Sky Lines planned a flight between Tashkent in Uzbekistan to Istanbul on December 4, 2022. However the aircraft diverted to Tehran. It might end up in the fleet of Mahan Air. This is a former Uzbekistan Airways aircraft.
May 30, 2022
Boeing 737-300 EP-JIB was ferried from Tashkent to Ahwaz in Iran. This is former ZS-TGB of South African Star Air. On April 14 the aircraft was ferried from Muscat to Tashkent using a callsign belonging to AFRICA CHARTER AIRLINES CC “AFRICAN SKY”
December 23, 2022
Four former Turkish airlies A340-200 aircraft were flown at the same time form Johannesburg to Tehran,. The aircraft were stored at JNB for a couple of years. A few days before their departure they received Burkino Faso registrations. Details here.
December 23, 2022
A former Air Peace Boeing 737-300 5N-BQU which was parked at Belgrade(Serbia) departed to Taskent but diverted to Shiraz International Airport in Iran using EP-DRV as registration. The callsign used was of Sepehran Airlines. Details here.
Feit of fake 