US to shut down Iranian airlines worldwide

The United States has announced that all Iranian commercial airlines will effectively be shut out of international operations from September 23, as Washington moves to tighten sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said CNBC in an interview on Monday (September 21) that Iranian airlines would be unable to operate normally worldwide because foreign airports and aviation companies could face secondary US sanctions if they continue providing services to the carriers. 

According to Bessent, foreign companies could risk losing access to the US dollar financial system if they provide Iranian airlines with services such as fuel, aircraft servicing, landing facilities or ticket sales. 

The announcement follows a major US Treasury sanctions action on September 8. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 27 remaining Iranian airlines, along with other entities accused of supporting Iran’s aviation sector. 

The Treasury said the measures are part of its “Operation Economic Outcast”, aimed at restricting Iran’s access to international financial and aviation networks.