Can the US ban Iranian airlines worldwide – and what would it mean?

The U.S. Treasury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, announced a policy intended to push Iranian airlines off the global aviation network by warning companies that provide services to those carriers they risk losing access to the dollar system. Bessent said the measures would mean that if Iranian planes land abroad, they may be unable to obtain fuel, landing services or ticketing support without exposing service providers to U.S. penalties. The statement was framed as an escalation of President Donald Trump’s broader ‘‘Operation Economic Outcast’’ aimed at squeezing Iran’s economy. Iran’s civil aviation sector has been constrained by decades of sanctions and recent conflict-related damage. Washington sanctioned all 27 Iranian carriers on September 8, and officials alleged those airlines were used to move weapons, personnel and illicit cargo. Among the carriers with international reach are Mahan Air, Iran Air and Qeshm Air; Mahan had already suspended routes to Istanbul, Ankara and Muscat after the U.S. sanctioned 36 foreign companies for supporting Iran’s aviation industry. The practical effect of the U.S. threat depends on whether foreign states, airports and service providers comply. Airports and airlines that handle Iranian planes provide fuel, ground handling and ticket-sales infrastructure that the U.S. warning targets; without those services Iranian aircraft would face strong operational constraints abroad. Aviation data firm Cirium reported just under 70,000 weekly international departing seats were scheduled for September, and noted international capacity in August was down 49% from 2025, a drop driven in part by the absence of carriers such as Flydubai and Turkish Airlines. The measures would most directly affect airports that currently receive Iranian carriers, including Istanbul, Najaf, Baghdad, Dubai, New Delhi, Lahore and multiple Chinese and Southeast Asian destinations. Analysts cited in the reporting expect countries with close trade or cultural links to Iran—such as Iraq, Pakistan and China—to resist U.S. pressure, while other regional hubs that gain economically from Iranian travel may seek exemptions or push back behind the scenes. Beijing has publicly called the U.S. steps ‘‘illegal.’