US Treasury warns foreign firms of secondary sanctions if they service Iranian airlines after Sept. 23
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that from September 23 Iranian airlines could be barred from international operations, and companies that provide services to them may face secondary sanctions that cut them off from the U.S. dollar system.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that, starting on September 23, Iranian airlines are expected to be unable to operate internationally as Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign firms that continue to service them.
"If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system," Bessent said.
The warning targets not only the carriers but also airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing companies and other service providers that enable flights abroad. The move follows a recent Treasury action that sanctioned all remaining Iranian airlines and foreign companies accused of supporting Iran’s aviation sector.
U.S. secondary sanctions, which can affect businesses in sectors such as energy, shipping, technology, gold and digital assets, aim to isolate Iran from the global financial system. Bessent noted that Chinese officials have been "very engaged" in discussions about compliance, and that positive talks are ongoing with Chinese financial authorities, including the People’s Bank of China, regarding enforcement of the sanctions.