US says all Iranian airlines barred from global flying from 23 September

The United States Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Monday that every Iranian airline would be fully unable to operate around the world from 23 September. He made the remark in an interview with CNBC. Bessent said the measure was faster and more direct than traditional sanctions, which typically take effect slowly, ageing fleets over two decades as carriers fail to buy aircraft or spare parts.

The mechanism targets foreign companies rather than the airlines themselves. According to the Treasury Secretary, fuel suppliers, landing service providers and ticket sellers that deal with Iranian aircraft would be cut off from the dollar system. Faced with losing access to dollar banking, which the aviation supply chain depends on, third-country providers are expected to suspend services, leaving the aircraft on the ground. Iranian carriers would then lose the ability to fly any route outside their own country that requires foreign services.

The announcement is part of a wider campaign. On 24 August the Treasury Department announced what it called Operation Economic Outcast, issuing determinations against critical sectors of the Iranian economy, aviation among them. On 8 September the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 36 targets tied to Iran's aviation sector and designated 27 of the country's commercial airlines under Executive Order 13902. Iranian carriers named in that action included Iran Aseman, Qeshm Air, Zagros, Taban, Saha, Kish and Ata.