No fuel, no landing services? US Treasury Secretary warns Iranian airlines face global lockdown

New York: Iranian airlines will struggle to operate around the world from Wednesday under the weight of US sanctions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Monday, as Washington intensifies economic pressure on Tehran.

On September 23, "all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world," Bessent told CNBC in an interview.

"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," he added.

The warning comes after the US Treasury on September 8 imposed sanctions on the remaining Iranian airlines, targeting 27 carriers as part of the Trump administration's broader "Operation Economic Outcast". The measures also targeted foreign companies and intermediaries accused of supporting Iran's aviation sector.

Iran's aviation industry has long operated under US sanctions, which have restricted its access to aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services.

The United States and Iran have been at war since late February, when US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader and senior military officials at the beginning of a broad offensive.

Tehran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments, sending oil prices higher as the conflict widened across the Middle East.

The latest US sanctions are part of a wider campaign announced by Bessent in August to cut off Iran's remaining economic lifelines. Washington has also warned foreign entities that continuing to support sanctioned Iranian businesses could expose them to restrictions on access to the US financial system.

Bessent had previously pledged what he described as an "economic D-Day" against Iran, with the administration seeking to squeeze Tehran's access to international finance.

His latest comments came a day after he met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for economic talks ahead of President Donald Trump's planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

China is among Iran's major economic partners and diplomatic backers.

The US Treasury has also targeted companies and financial networks in several countries that Washington says support Iran's aviation and broader sanctions-evasion activities.

Iran's airlines have faced international restrictions for years, making it difficult for carriers to obtain modern aircraft and access overseas services. The new measures further increase the risks for foreign companies that provide fuel, financial services, aircraft support or other assistance to Iranian carriers.