Treasury Targets 27 Iranian Airlines in Major Sanctions Move

The Treasury Department announced sanctions Tuesday against 36 targets connected to Iran’s aviation sector, accusing the network of helping the Iranian regime move weapons, personnel and illicit cargo.

According to FOX Business, the action, carried out by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control under Operation Economic Outcast, includes sanctions against 27 Iranian airlines along with foreign companies and aviation service providers.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration had warned companies supporting Iran’s aviation industry that they could face consequences.

"Today, we followed through on that promise with sanctions on companies that continue to support Mahan Air," Bessent said. "Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system."

The department said Iran’s commercial airlines have been used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to procure and transport weapons and move personnel. Treasury also accused Iran of using front companies, foreign intermediaries and complicated shipping routes to obtain U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive aviation technology.

The 27 airlines targeted include Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman Airlines, Kish Airlines, Qeshm Air, Saha Airlines, Sepehran Airlines, Varesh Airlines and Zagros Airlines, among others. Treasury said Tuesday’s action represents the first designations of Iranian airlines under an August aviation-sector determination.

The sanctions also target companies in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey that Treasury says helped transfer U.S.-origin aircraft to Mahan Air. The department said some aircraft were routed through third countries before reaching the Iranian airline.

Treasury also sanctioned cargo and sales-service companies that it said provided support to Mahan Air’s international operations. One Turkish company, S Sistem Lojistik Hizmetler Anonim Sirketi, was accused of coordinating shipments that included unmanned aerial vehicle components and industrial equipment bound for Iran.

The department said the new measures build on previous sanctions against Mahan Air and other networks tied to Iran. The airline was first sanctioned by the U.S. in 2011 over alleged support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.

Treasury said the sanctions block the designated entities’ property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibit U.S. persons from conducting transactions involving blocked property unless authorized or exempt.

The department also said its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a separate alert warning financial institutions about potential Iranian efforts to procure aircraft and aircraft parts through international networks.