Page 49 - IRANRptSep20

grounded fleets due to the scrapping of domestic and international flights made necessary by efforts introduced by Iran and other countries in the battle against the pandemic.
“The number of air passengers reduced by 76% and flights by 90% during Nowruz [the Persian New Year] holidays [which ran from March 19-April 3], according to latest data released by Iran Airports Company,” he said. Revenues of Iranian airlines have dropped by a staggering 80% in recent weeks, with only a few flights going to international destinations including the UK, Turkey and Qatar.
According to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA), on April 5, only two flights were recorded on its rota, including a return service from London with IranAir.
9.1.4​ Transport sector news
Iran-flagged vessel ‘loads alumina in Venezuela’ in latest sign of alliance between Tehran, Caracas
An Iran-flagged vessel loaded a cargo of alumina in Venezuela this month after delivering supplies for an Iranian supermarket opened in Caracas, three sources familiar with the shipment were quoted as saying by Reuters on August 27.​ The report is the latest indication that the two nations, both facing huge economic difficulties caused by US sanctions, are intent of building up their strategic relationship, irking Washington.
The news agency said that it could not determine who the customer for the alumina cargo was, nor where it was destined. The Golsan, a general cargo ship with a capacity to carry 22,882 tonnes, was sailing east across the Atlantic Ocean, but was still signalling its destination as La Guaira port in Venezuela, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.
The vessel is reportedly owned by Mosakhar Darya Shipping Co and managed by Rahbaran Omid Darya, both Tehran-based companies blocked in November 2018 when the Trump administration reimposed sanctions on hundreds of Iranian banking and shipping companies.
The two OPEC countries have scaled up their trade links in recent months. Iran sent Venezuela five fuel tankers in April to help resolve gasoline shortages partly brought about by the impact of US sanctions on the repair and maintenance of Venezuelan refineries. It also airlifted in equipment to help restart output at Venezuela's largest petroleum refining complex.
US officials have claimed Venezuela's government is paying for the gasoline and equipment with gold.
The Trump administration earlier this month seized Iranian fuel cargoes aboard four tankers destined for Venezuela. It also sanctioned a Chinese company for assisting Iran’s Mahan Air, the airline that transported the refinery equipment to Venezuela.
Alumina is a powder refined from bauxite that is a key material for manufacturing aluminium. Iran has for years been producing aluminium powder for use in its missile programme at a secret facility set up by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Reuters reported in June. Washington has sanctioned Iran's metals sector, including aluminium companies, arguing they are connected to the country's nuclear, military or ballistic missile programmes.
Venezuelan state television on August 25 reported that the Golsan was transporting Venezuelan fruits to Iran. The Iranian embassy in Caracas said on Twitter on August 22 that Venezuela had shipped a cargo of mangos and pineapples to Iran as part of "win-win commercial relations".
Iran says none of the ballistic missiles it has developed are designed to carry a nuclear payload and that its nuclear development programme is purely civilian.
49​ IRAN Country Report September 2020 www.intellinews.com