Most of Iran Air’s jets have been banned from flying over European skies according to a report by the EU Tuesday. The reason for blocking the planes stems from safety concerns and according to the EU has nothing to do with U.N. sanctions against Iran over their nuclear program.

A list consisting of 278 airlines, which are mostly run by small Africa and Asia based companies, was introduced in 2006 and is updated often. According to Transport Commission spokeswoman Helen Kearns, due to a safety audit, Iran Air’s Airbus 320s, Boeing 727s and 747s, have all been put on the EU blacklist.

Kearns told the Associated Press that the ban has absolutely nothing to do with international sanctions, “We deal purely with safety requirements,” she said. “Our controls focus entirely on safety, nothing else.” Due to a 30-year-old ban on purchasing U.S. spare parts, Iran
Air has also had trouble properly maintaining its aging Boeing 747 and 727
jets purchased in the 1970s.

Source: Associated Press