Bessent announces new ‘unprecedented’ sanctions on Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined further sanctions against Iran called “Operation Economic Outcast.”
WASHINGTON — The United States said it’s sanctioning Iran’s commercial airliners, as it unveiled the next phase of an economic pressure campaign that aims to end the war by financially crippling Tehran.
The Trump administration announced on Sept. 7 that it was expanding sanctions against Iran’s largest carrier, Mahan Airlines, which it has accused of transporting military personnel and drones and weapons systems for Iran’s military, and penalizing and additional 27 airliners and companies that support Iran’s aviation industry.
The Treasury Department says it is terminating the ability of non-U.S. airlines to fly U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran.
“Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Today, we followed through on that promise with sanctions on companies that continue to support Mahan Air. 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.”
The Treasury Department sanctioned individuals and entities in China, India, Russia, and Iran in July it says are affiliated with Mahan Airlines over the company’s alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The United States says the commercial airliner that’s based out of Tehran illicitly transports Iran’s military personnel and drones and weapons systems.
Mahan Airlines is also under sanction in Europe for transferring drones to Russia that the European Union says have been used to attack Ukraine.
The new actions are intended to take the entire aviation sector of the Iranian economy out of the market, a Treasury Department official said. Companies should consider themselves on notice that if they engage with any of Iran’s airlines they can expect the full wrath of America’s economic sanctions to come down on them, the person added.
An official said that there are other avenues for humanitarian assistance to enter Iran and it doesn’t necessarily need to move through Iranian airlines.