US Aims worldwide Shutdown of Iranian Airlines from Sept 23
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The United States plans to shut down Iranian airlines’ international operations from September 23 by targeting foreign companies that continue providing them with aviation services.
No Iran-based airlines currently maintain normal, regularly scheduled commercial passenger flight operations in India.
US Targets Iranian Airlines
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that all Iranian airlines would be “shut down around the world” from September 23, as Washington expands its sanctions campaign against Tehran.
The proposed action would effectively cut Iranian carriers off from international travel by pressuring companies and airports outside Iran to stop servicing them.
Airports, Fuel Firms and Ticket Sellers in Focus
The US action is aimed not only at Iranian airlines but also at the businesses that enable them to operate abroad.
Bessent said airports and companies providing landing services, fuel or ticket sales to Iranian carriers could face penalties, including being cut off from the US dollar financial system.
That threat could make international aviation companies reluctant to handle Iranian aircraft or transactions involving the carriers.
Sanctions Add to Pressure on Iran
The move follows wider US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector. Washington earlier this month sanctioned Iranian airlines that had not previously been targeted, along with foreign companies accused of supporting Iran’s aviation industry.
Iranian carriers have already faced years of restrictions that have limited their access to new aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services.
The latest action is part of the broader US campaign to isolate Iran from the international financial system, with secondary sanctions also affecting foreign businesses that deal with Iranian interests.
China Drawn Into Sanctions Pressure
Bessent’s announcement came after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, with Washington also seeking Beijing’s cooperation on enforcing sanctions against Iran.
China is a major economic partner of Iran, making its approach to US sanctions an important part of Washington’s wider pressure campaign. Bessent said Chinese officials had been “very engaged” in discussions on sanctions compliance.
