United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international operations from this week, as Washington threatens foreign companies with secondary sanctions if they continue servicing the Islamic republic’s carriers.
Iran is yet to respond to Bessent’s latest economic assault even as several countries have announced they are following through on US threats by banning the operation of sanctioned Iranian airlines. The threat marks the latest escalation in Washington’s economic campaign against Tehran, which is US President Donald Trump’s another weapon in the war against Iran.
It follows earlier US sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry and Bessent’s “economic D-Day” threat on Iran and pledge to choke off Tehran financially.
Bessent’s comments came a day after he met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for economic talks laying the groundwork for President Donald Trump’s summit this Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Treasury Department also took aim at targets for supporting Iran’s aviation sector, including firms based outside Iran.
Georgia also barred Iranian carriers from its land, while Iranian airline Mahan said it suspended service to Turkey at the request of the Turkish government. Earlier this month, the United States said it imposed sanctions on “all remaining Iranian airlines” that had yet to face such penalties.
