U.S. Sanctions Aim to βShut Downβ Iranβs Airlines, but This Boeing Plane Is Still Flying NYT - World By: Damien Cave 5 October 2026 at 04:01 The Trump administration says all Iranian airlines are being βshut down.β So why is this jumbo jet still flying from Tehran to Southeast Asia? Β© ReutersA Mahan Air Boeing 777 with the tail sign EP-MTE arrived at Iranβs Najaf International Airport in July, carrying the casket of Iranβs supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes in February.