US Sanctions 27 Iranian Airlines in Sweeping Aviation Crackdown
Washington sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and other aviation-linked entities, targeting foreign intermediaries, service providers and procurement networks as it seeks to deepen Iran’s economic isolation.
The U.S. on Tuesday sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and several aviation-linked entities, extending its economic campaign against Tehran to every Iranian carrier not already subject to American restrictions.
The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the measures cover 36 targets and are intended to restrict Iran’s access to aircraft, technology, services and international financial channels.
Aviation Sector Targeted
The action brings all remaining Iranian airlines under U.S. sanctions as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Iran’s wider economy.
“Essentially, we're taking the entire aviation sector of the Iranian economy out of the market,” a U.S. Treasury official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Treasury said Iran uses its aviation sector to transport weapons, personnel and illicit cargo.
The measures also seek to constrain Mahan Air and other carriers by restricting companies that support their overseas operations.
Mahan Air has previously been accused by Washington of facilitating activities connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Foreign Companies Included
The sanctions extend beyond Iranian carriers to companies operating in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
Treasury said some of the targeted businesses had helped Iran obtain U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive technology through foreign intermediaries, front companies and transshipment routes.
Cargo service providers and general sales agents that supported Mahan Air’s international operations were also targeted.
The department also issued a separate alert calling on financial institutions to identify and report procurement networks supporting Iran’s aviation industry.
Financial Isolation
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent framed the measures as part of “Operation Economic Outcast,” Washington’s broader effort to restrict Iran’s financial links abroad.
“Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system,” Bessent said.
He has described the campaign as an “economic D-Day” intended to deprive Tehran of financial support.
A Treasury official did not say whether companies in countries such as China could face secondary sanctions for assisting Iran’s aviation industry, but said Washington retained several options for acting against service providers.
Pressure Amid Regional War
The sanctions come more than six months into the U.S. war with Iran, which began after U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February killed Iran’s supreme leader and senior military officials.
Tehran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher global oil prices as the fighting spread across the region.
The latest measures add to sanctions imposed in July on individuals and companies Washington accuses of assisting Mahan Air.
Iran’s aviation industry has already faced longstanding restrictions that have limited access to aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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