U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called on countries to deny overflight rights to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline under U.S. sanctions, which he said recently delivered cargoes of “unknown support” to the Venezuelan government. The United States maintains punishing sanctions on Iran aimed at containing its regional power in the Middle East and has hit Venezuela with similiarly tough measures in an effort to force socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power. Speaking at a State Department news conference, Pompeo said aircraft of privately owned Mahan Air, Iran’s largest airline, in recent days delivered supplies to Maduro’s government.
