The United States plans to shut down Iranian airlines worldwide from Wednesday, September 23, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said, as Washington intensifies economic pressure on Tehran.
Bessent made the announcement during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday, saying foreign companies that continue providing services to Iranian airlines could face consequences under the US financial system.
“On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent said, outlining how Washington intends to enforce the measure.
US Targets Iranian Aviation Sector
According to Bessent, Iranian airlines operating internationally would face difficulties obtaining essential services, including aviation fuel, landing facilities and ticket sales.
“How do we do that? 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 said.
The measure is part of a wider US campaign aimed at restricting Iran’s access to international financial and commercial networks.
Bessent said Washington was pressuring Iran “like never before” and was targeting what the administration describes as Iranian enablers around the world, including financial institutions and other businesses.
The United States has increasingly used sanctions against companies and institutions accused of supporting Iran’s economy, aviation sector and other strategic industries.
Foreign Companies Face Pressure
The planned restrictions could affect airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing companies and other businesses outside Iran that provide services to Iranian carriers.
Bessent warned that companies continuing to assist Iranian airlines could risk losing access to the US dollar financial system, increasing the potential cost of maintaining international operations.
The announcement follows the US Treasury’s recent sanctions against additional Iranian airlines and aviation-related entities as Washington seeks to expand the economic pressure on Tehran.
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The restrictions are also significant because Iranian airlines have already faced years of sanctions that have complicated access to aircraft, spare parts, maintenance services and international financial transactions.
According to Reuters reporting carried by other outlets, Bessent also said Chinese financial authorities had been “very engaged” in discussions about compliance with US sanctions targeting Iran.
G7 Condemns Houthi Attacks
The aviation announcement came as international pressure also increased over attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, which the United States and other governments describe as being backed by Iran.
The G7 called for an end to attacks by the Houthis against Yemen and Saudi Arabia and urged the group to stop military operations and attacks against civilian shipping.
The bloc also called on Iran to end its support for the Houthis.
The issue has become particularly important because of the strategic position of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which provide an alternative route for some oil shipments that would otherwise pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent Houthi attacks have raised concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia and important maritime routes connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Britain Offers Support to Saudi Arabia
The United Kingdom has separately agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom faces attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Royal Air Force would provide air-to-air refuellingTr for Saudi aircraft under an arrangement initially expected to last several weeks.
Burnham said the decision was made after Saudi Arabia requested military assistance.
“We need to keep those pathways (for oil) open,” Burnham said, according to the Associated Press. The UK government has described the assistance as defensive support.
The British decision comes amid concerns about disruptions to regional energy infrastructure and maritime transportation.
Saudi Arabia has an East-West pipeline that allows some crude exports to reach the Red Sea, providing an alternative route when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
Regional Energy Routes Under Pressure
The developments involving Iranian airlines, the Houthis and Saudi Arabia are taking place against a broader backdrop of heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, while the Bab el-Mandeb provides another crucial route connecting major commercial and energy markets.
The combination of sanctions and regional security measures could therefore have consequences beyond Iran and Yemen, particularly for international aviation, shipping and energy markets.
For Iranian airlines, the immediate issue is whether foreign airports and service providers will continue dealing with them despite the threat of US financial restrictions.
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For Saudi Arabia and its partners, the focus remains on protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining access to maritime and energy routes.
The measures announced by Washington and London represent separate policy responses, but both are unfolding amid wider efforts to limit the regional consequences of the conflict and protect important international transportation and energy networks.
