US Treasury flags Almaty tour operator for Iran's Mahan Air ties

September 9, 2026 at 11:03 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added Almaty-based Tour Invest LLC to its sanctions registry over ties to Iranian carrier Mahan Air. The company is flagged with 'Secondary sanctions risk,' meaning it faces elevated scrutiny rather than direct restrictions. The listing is part of a broader US action targeting 27 Iranian airlines and 36 related entities worldwide.

Key Facts

OFAC added Kazakhstan's Tour Invest LLC to its sanctions registry with a 'Secondary sanctions risk' designation.
Tour Invest, registered in Almaty in 2014, acted as local sales agent for Iran's Mahan Air.
The company has fewer than five employees and paid 18.2 million tenge in taxes.
Co-founders are Ansar Duisengaliyev and Ziai Babak Ali, who also heads the Iran Business Center in Kazakhstan.
The US action targets 27 Iranian airlines and 36 related individuals and entities worldwide.

Sanctions Registry Listing

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Kazakhstan's Tour Invest LLC to its sanctions registry. The Almaty-based company is flagged with 'Secondary sanctions risk,' indicating elevated scrutiny rather than direct restrictions. OFAC uses the phrase 'Subject to Secondary Sanctions' for entities already under direct restrictions. The listing stems from Tour Invest's role as local sales agent for Iran's Mahan Air.

Company Profile

Tour Invest LLC was registered in Almaty in 2014 as a tour operator. The small enterprise employs fewer than five people and has paid 18.2 million tenge in taxes. Co-founders are Ansar Duisengaliyev and Ziai Babak Ali. Ziai Babak Ali also serves as director of Tour Invest and heads the Iran Business Center in Kazakhstan. Duisengaliyev additionally manages Hotel Zhetisu and Crystal Bay Kazakhstan, both listed as inactive.

US Sanctions Rationale

The US action targets 27 Iranian airlines and 36 related individuals and entities worldwide. OFAC states that Tehran uses foreign intermediaries and extended transport routes to covertly procure American aviation parts and technology. The measures are not related to civilian passenger transport, according to OFAC. Entities from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, the UAE, and the UK were included in the updated OFAC list. Mahan Air previously operated direct flights to Almaty, though those flights are currently suspended.