US threatens global shutdown of Iranian airlines via secondary sanctions

US sanctions Iranian aviation secondary sanctions Strait of Hormuz geopolitical tension

The United States has announced sweeping secondary sanctions aimed at effectively shutting down all Iranian commercial airlines globally by September 23, 2026. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that any foreign entity providing fuel, landing services, or ticket sales to Iranian carriers risks being excluded from the US dollar-clearing system.

In response to the sanctions, China has expressed opposition, labeling the measures illegal and inconsistent with international law. Meanwhile, some Iranian airlines, such as Mahan Air, have already begun suspending certain international routes, including flights to Turkey and Oman. However, Iranian aviation authorities maintain that many international flights, including those to Iraq, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, continue to operate as scheduled, stating they have received no official instructions to suspend these routes.

Amidst these economic pressures, diplomatic efforts are underway. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a three-hour meeting with Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. While Donald Trump described the talks as productive and indicated momentum toward an agreement, Iran has presented specific conditions for ending the conflict, including the removal of US naval blockades and the release of frozen assets.

Entities

Abbas Araghchi · China · Donald Trump · He Lifeng · Iran · Iran Civil Aviation Organization · Iranian Civil Aviation Organization · Iranian Revolutionary Guard · Mahan Air · Masoud Pezeshkian · Operation Economic Pariah · Pan Gongsheng

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 42 SOURCES] Foreign entities providing fuel, landing services, or ticket sales to Iranian airlines will face exclusion from the US dollar system. www.aktuality.sk · teve1.info · tourist-mag.ir · brasilpopular.com · contrapodernews.com · +9 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The US has already sanctioned three banks, including a major Egyptian bank with a Dubai branch, a large Turkish bank, and a major Russian bank.
[● 4 SOURCES] The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has threatened to launch attacks using new weapons if the US conducts further bombings. www.aktuality.sk
[● 12 SOURCES] Chinese financial authorities, including the governor of the People's Bank of China, have been involved in discussions regarding these measures. www.milletnews.com · www.ekoturk.com
[● 46 SOURCES] All Iranian airlines will be effectively shut down globally starting September 23. www.aktuality.sk · teve1.info · tourist-mag.ir · brasilpopular.com · contrapodernews.com · +13 more
[DISPUTED] The new sanctions are part of ‘Operation Economic Pariah’, an initiative launched to financially isolate Iran. gwg.ng · malaysiatribune.news · www.milletnews.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Iraq will suspend flights of Iranian airlines to comply with US Treasury decisions. gwg.ng · nap.ba
[● 14 SOURCES] The US Treasury sanctioned 36 entities, including 27 Iranian airlines, on September 8. tourist-mag.ir · brasilpopular.com · contrapodernews.com · gwg.ng · transportasimedia.com · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Georgia has barred Iranian carriers from landing in the country. gwg.ng · nap.ba
[● 6 SOURCES] Mahan Air has suspended its international flights to Istanbul, Ankara, and Muscat. tourist-mag.ir · gwg.ng · nap.ba · www.turizmekonomi.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Mahan Air has suspended its international flights to Turkey and Oman. tourist-mag.ir · gwg.ng
[● 4 SOURCES] US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that Chinese financial authorities are engaged in discussions regarding compliance with US sanctions on Iran. www.ekoturk.com · www.milletnews.com