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3 clusters · 138 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

US expands sanctions on Iran aviation, banking and crypto

Overview

The U.S. Treasury Department has launched ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ a campaign targeting Iran’s aviation, banking, and cryptocurrency sectors. The sanctions include 36 entities, specifically blacklisting 27 commercial and private airlines, such as Mahan Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Qeshm Air, and Zagros Airlines. Washington alleges these carriers are utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to transport weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo.

To disrupt procurement networks, the U.S. has sanctioned nine service providers and sales agents in Türkiye, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates. These intermediaries are accused of helping Iran acquire U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive technology, including the diversion of at least three Boeing 777s via the UAE and Oman. In a significant escalation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has indefinitely suspended three general licenses, revoking previous exceptions that allowed foreign companies to fly American-made aircraft to Iranian destinations.

On September 9, the U.S. further expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s military aviation sector, identifying 36 individuals and entities across Turkey, the UAE, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. Among the new targets are three Turkish companies: Istanbul-based S Sistem Lojistik, accused of coordinating shipments of drone components and industrial equipment for Mahan Air; Sky Phoenix, based in Izmir, alleged to have mediated the transfer of U.S.-manufactured aircraft; and Mes Cargo, which reportedly acts as a commercial representative for Mahan Air.

Parallel to the aviation crackdown, the U.S. sanctioned the Istanbul-based Golden Global Yatırım Bankası and two subsidiaries for facilitating IRGC-Qods Force transactions and moving oil revenue from China to Turkey. Expanding the scope to digital assets, OFAC has designated the entire Iranian cryptocurrency sector as sanctionable. Iranian officials have warned that continued pressure could lead to the establishment of a maritime exclusion zone in the Persian Gulf.

Entities

Scott Bessent · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force · Mahan Air · Tom Barrack

Claims

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

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. 3 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 51 sources
    US sanctions Iran's entire aviation sector under Operation Economic Outcast

    The US has launched ‘Operation Economic Outcast’, sanctioning 27 Iranian airlines and 36 entities to disrupt the aviation sector's role in transporting weapons and personnel for the Iranian regime.

  2. 5 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 46 sources
    U.S. Treasury sanctions Iranian aviation sector and Turkish bank

    The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 36 entities, including 27 Iranian airlines and a Turkish bank, to disrupt IRGC logistics and oil revenue under Operation Economic Outcast.

  3. 7 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 61 sources
    Golden Global Bank sanctioned by US for alleged Iran ties

    The US Treasury sanctioned Turkey's Golden Global Bank and two subsidiaries for allegedly facilitating millions in transactions for Iran's IRGC-Qods Force as part of 'Operation Economic Outcast'.

Sources

24-ore.com · 680news.com · abc13.com · abc17news.com · al-monitor.com · alaraby.co.uk · albiladpress.com · aljazeera.com · artspaces.com · athina984.gr · aviation.direct · avioblog.it · bahamasspectator.com · barbadosgazette.com · bazaartimes.com · bedigest.com · bhaskarlive.in · biznismagazin.rs · bne.eu · brasil247.com · brasilemfolhas.com.br · ca.sports.yahoo.com · cnn.gr · contrapodernews.com · cryptobriefing.com · cryptonomist.ch · demagog.cz · diarioactualidad.com · diariodelsur.com.co · diarioestrategia.cl · dimokratia.gr · dnews.gr · durangoherald.com · ekoturk.com · elbalad.news · elfarolatino.com · emvolos.gr · epochtimes.com · epochtimes.fr · epochtimes.it · equasis.org · ertnews.gr · es.euronews.com · eurasia.ro · europesays.com · eveningreport.nz · finanznachrichten.de · formosadeportiva.com.ar

This summary has been updated 13 times: see revision history