The US Treasury is widening sanctions pressure on Iran’s civil aviation sector, targeting Iranian airlines and the foreign companies that support them. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that carriers linked to Tehran would be effectively shut out of global operations from 23 September, as fuel suppliers, airports, ground handlers and ticketing services risk losing access to the US dollar system if they continue working with them.
The measure aims to reach beyond the United States and deter non-US businesses from handling Iranian flights. It could make it harder for Iranian carriers to secure fuel, landing rights and sales channels abroad, disrupting international routes and transit access.
The move follows earlier Treasury action in early September that sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and related entities. It forms part of the Trump administration’s broader sanctions campaign against Tehran, with the latest step focused on isolating Iran’s aviation network worldwide rather than only restricting activity inside the US.