Iran’s second-largest airline, Mahan Air, completed one of its largest sanctions circumvention operations this month by receiving five Boeing 777-200ER aircraft simultaneously, according to local reports.

Previously, all five aircraft were operated by Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot under registration numbers 9V-SRL, 9V-SRH, 9V-SRJ, 9V-SRG, and 9V-SRP.

The airline launched operations with its new 777 fleet on 14DEC25. According to the airline’s schedule as of 1700GMT, planned flights include Tehran Mehrabad to Mashhad (14DEC25 W51035/1034), Tehran Mehrabad to Kerman (15DEC25 W51067/1066), Tehran Mehrabad to Bandar Abbas (17DEC25 W51095/1094), and Tehran Imam Khomeini to Dubai (20DEC25–02JAN26 W5064/065) (except selected dates).

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the aircraft were sent to storage facilities in the United States and Australia. The aircraft were then purchased by the American company Ion Aviation and transferred to storage in China.

The aircraft subsequently passed through a complex network of offshore companies and shell companies in Indonesia, Madagascar and Cambodia, ultimately being registered in Madagascar's aviation registry under numbers 5R-RIJ, 5R-RIS, 5R-ISA, 5R-IJA and 5R-HER.

On July 15, all five aircraft departed from Siem Reap, Cambodia, and disappeared from radar in Iranian airspace, following a known pattern.

Eagle-eyed plane spotters noticed one of the planes landed in Mashhad, two in Zahedan and the remainder were stationed at Chabahar military base in the south of the country, close to the border with Pakistan.

The aircraft are equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent engines, with which Iran has operational experience as similar engines are installed on Airbus A330 aircraft operated by Iran Air. This will make operating the newly received aircraft easier.

Mahan Air, which is likely connected to the entire operation, could use the aircraft to replace its Airbus A340 fleet, which may be transferred to other airlines, including Iran Air Tours or other companies.

Some sources suggest five to six additional wide-body aircraft capable of operating international routes will soon enter the country through a proxy network; however, IntelliNews could not confirm the reports from Persian-language media.