United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that all Iranian airlines are to be effectively shut out of international operations starting September 23. This move involves threatening secondary sanctions against any foreign companies, including airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing companies, and ground handlers, that continue to provide services to Iranian carriers. Bessent explicitly stated that if an Iranian airline lands, and a company provides fuel, landing services, or sells tickets, that company will be "knocked out of the dollar system."
This new wave of sanctions follows the US sanctioning all 27 Iranian carriers on September 8, which Washington claims the Iranian regime uses to transport weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo. Major Iranian airlines like Mahan Air, Iran Air, and Qeshm Air are specifically targeted. Mahan Air, which has the broadest international network, had already suspended flights to Istanbul, Ankara, Muscat, and between Tehran and Muscat following earlier US sanctions against 36 foreign companies supporting Iran's aviation sector. Iran Air, the national flag carrier, now only serves three international destinations: Najaf and Baghdad in Iraq, and Istanbul.
The impact is expected to be significant, particularly for airports receiving Iranian carriers in cities like Istanbul, Najaf, Baghdad, Dubai, New Delhi, Lahore, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Phuket. Aviation data analysis firm Cirium noted that for September, there were just under 70,000 weekly seats on departing international flights scheduled from Iran, a 49% decrease in international capacity compared to 2025, largely due to the absence of carriers like Flydubai and Turkish Airlines. Nader Habibi, an Iranian American economist, believes these comprehensive sanctions could affect most global operations, with only China and Russia likely to resist.
Travel costs for Iranians are already rising, with some fares increasing by up to 100% in recent weeks, adding to the burden on travelers amidst a severe economic decline and a 30% devaluation of the Iranian currency. While some analysts, like Saj Ahmad from StrategicAero Research, question the enforceability in regions with strong ties to Iran like Pakistan and China, the ultimate goal is to isolate Iran from international air travel. Mazen Sammak, an aviation consultant, suggested that Iranians might seek alternative travel via land or sea to neighboring countries like Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, or Pakistan, though this would increase costs and inconvenience, potentially benefiting regional hubs like Istanbul, Doha, Muscat, and Dubai. The sanctions will also exacerbate maintenance issues for Iran's aging fleet, potentially grounding a third of its operational aircraft.
