Iran Air

Iran Air was established in 1944 as Iranian Airways and later restructured as Iran National Airlines Corporation before adopting the Iran Air brand. The airline grew through the 1950s and 1960s under the Shah's modernization program, acquiring Boeing 727, 737, 747, and 707 aircraft and building one of the Middle East's strongest airline networks. The 1979 Islamic Revolution transformed Iran Air's operational environment entirely — US sanctions imposed following the revolution prevented the airline from acquiring spare parts, new aircraft, or maintenance services from American or European companies. The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) severely disrupted operations.

Since then, Iran Air has struggled to maintain its aging fleet under the weight of international sanctions. The 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement briefly opened the possibility of aircraft purchases, and Iran Air signed landmark orders for Airbus and Boeing jets — worth billions of dollars. However, the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and reimposition of sanctions cancelled these orders. Iran Air continues to operate under severe constraints.