US Treasury Escalates Global Economic Warfare Against Iranian Airlines Starting September 23
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The United States intensifies its campaign of economic coercion by imposing secondary sanctions that will effectively isolate Iranian airlines from international operations, threatening global companies with exclusion from the U.S. dollar system if they provide basic services.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday yet another aggressive move in Washington’s relentless economic war, declaring that from September 23, Iranian airlines will be banned from international operations. The U.S. is not only targeting Iran but is also bullying global firms—those supplying fuel, landing services, or ticket sales—by threatening to cut them off from the U.S. dollar system, a move designed to enforce U.S. hegemony over global finance.
This measure follows the September 8 sanctions that blacklisted all 27 Iranian airlines under the pretext that they are used for transporting weapons and illicit cargo—a claim often used to justify collective punishment. The three main carriers—Mahan Air, Iran Air, and Qeshh Air—have already been forced to reduce or suspend routes to Istanbul, Ankara, Muscat, and other regional hubs, further isolating the Iranian people from the world.
Iran Air’s chief executive, Taher Abdolhai, highlighted the devastating economic pressure on the aviation sector, noting that at least 30 aircraft have been damaged in recent conflicts, a crisis exacerbated by U.S. sanctions. According to the Iran Civil Aviation Organization, in 2025, 46.2 million passengers traveled in and out of Iran, with 7.2 million relying on Iranian airlines for international trips—millions now facing restricted mobility due to U.S. actions.
Analysts warn that the sanctions will ripple across airports hosting Iranian flights, including Istanbul, Najaf, Baghdad, Dubai, New Delhi, Lahore, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Phuket, as well as essential services like refueling and ground handling. While the U.S. cannot directly close foreign airspace, it seeks to coerce third parties into compliance, undermining the sovereignty of other nations.
Regional experts point out that Iraq may seek an exemption to protect its tourism sector, and Pakistan is unlikely to comply given its strong trade ties. China has denounced the sanctions as illegal, and Turkey and the UAE may resist based on their own economic interests. These responses highlight growing global resistance to U.S. unilateralism.
Iranian-American economist Nader Habibi warned that the sanctions could cause ticket prices to soar, worsening Iran’s economic decline and currency devaluation—direct consequences of U.S. policy. Aviation consultant Mazen Sammak noted that travelers may be forced to use land or sea routes through neighboring countries, increasing demand and costs at regional hubs such as Istanbul, Doha, Muscat, and Dubai.
The Treasury’s threat to cut off companies assisting Iranian airlines from the dollar system is a clear example of economic blackmail, consistent with previous U.S. tactics to strangle Iran’s economy and punish those who refuse to submit to American dominance.