Iranian airlines to be cut off from global system as US Treasury announces secondary sanctions

The move is part of the Trump administration’s Operation Economic Outcast, designed to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran alongside the conflict with Iran.

Foreign companies continuing to provide services to Iranian airlines will risk facing US secondary sanctions starting on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday.

“On September 23, all Iranian airlines will be grounded globally,” Bessent told CNBC.

The move could effectively prevent Iranian carriers from operating at airports worldwide.

He noted that the US threat applies not only to the airlines themselves but also to airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing agencies, and other service providers.

“If they land, they cannot be supplied with fuel or landing services, nor can tickets be sold for them; otherwise, you will be cut off from the dollar system,” he said.

All Iranian airlines added to US sanctions list in September

Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on all active Iranian airlines not previously included on sanctions lists, warning that foreign companies assisting them could be barred from the global financial system.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s Operation Economic Outcast, designed to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran alongside the conflict with Iran.