Iranian Cargo Aircraft Under U.S. Sanctions Operates Frequent Flights Between Tehran and Moscow

Flight-tracking data reveals repeated activity by an Iranian cargo aircraft sanctioned by the United States. The aircraft, bearing registration EP-FAB, operates as part of the fleet of Qeshm Fars Air.

Misbar reviewed the aircraft’s flight-tracking records over recent months, alongside its technical history, its designation on U.S. sanctions lists, and its previous movements to Syria’s Hmeimim Air Base.

Frequent Flights Between Tehran and Moscow

Flight-tracking data shows that aircraft EP-FAB completed 10 round trips between Tehran and Moscow since Sept. 17, 2025. Five of those flights were recorded between May and June 1, 2026.

Tracking records also show that the aircraft departed Moscow for Tehran on May 7 after remaining there since its previous flight on Feb. 28, 2026.

Previous Flights to Syria’s Hmeimim Air Base

Historical aviation records indicate that the aircraft conducted repeated flights to Hmeimim Air Base in Syria’s Latakia province roughly one month before the fall of the Syrian regime.

Tracking data shows that flights between Tehran and Latakia consistently used the identifiers QFZ9950 for outbound flights and QFZ9951 for return flights.

On Oct. 5, 2025, flight-tracking data showed the aircraft departing toward Hmeimim Air Base before returning to Tehran after reaching Iraqi airspace without completing the journey.

Aircraft Listed Under U.S. Sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added both Qeshm Fars Air and aircraft EP-FAB to its sanctions list on Jan. 24, 2019.

The Treasury Department stated that the company had provided support to Mahan Air and the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, accusing it of participating in the transport of weapons and fighters to Syria.

Flight-tracking records show that the aircraft remains active on routes linking Iran and Russia, while also maintaining a history of flights to Syria. However, publicly available tracking data does not reveal the nature of its cargo.

Boeing 747 Heavy Cargo Aircraft

Aircraft EP-FAB is a Boeing 747-281F, a freighter variant of the Boeing 747 family designed for transporting heavy cargo over long distances.

The aircraft is owned by Qeshm Fars Air, which resumed operations in 2017 after several years of inactivity and currently operates a limited cargo fleet.

The aircraft is capable of carrying more than 100 tons of cargo per flight and features an upward-opening nose door that allows the loading of oversized equipment.

It is powered by four turbofan engines, enabling long-haul intercontinental operations.

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