US threatens to ground Iranian airlines worldwide from Wednesday
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns foreign companies servicing Iranian carriers could face secondary sanctions.
The United States has threatened to effectively ground Iranian airlines worldwide from Wednesday (23 September), warning foreign companies that provide services to the carriers that they could face secondary sanctions, reports Al Jazeera.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Monday that "all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world" from 23 September.
The warning extends beyond the airlines themselves to airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing companies and other businesses that support their international operations.
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"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," Bessent said, according to Al Jazeera.
The threat is the latest move in US President Donald Trump's administration's escalating economic pressure campaign against Tehran, which has continued alongside the war between the US and Iran.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury sanctioned all remaining Iranian airlines that had not previously been targeted, along with companies outside Iran accused of supporting the country's aviation sector.
Iran's aviation industry has already faced significant restrictions under years of US sanctions, which have limited Iranian carriers' access to new aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services.
The latest measures form part of a broader US sanctions regime aimed at isolating Iran from the international financial system. US secondary sanctions can expose foreign companies doing business with Iran in sectors including energy, shipping, technology, gold and digital assets to penalties.
China 'very engaged' on Iran sanctions
Bessent's comments came a day after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, reports Al Jazeera.
China is one of Iran's key economic partners and diplomatic backers, making Beijing's cooperation potentially significant to Washington's efforts to restrict Tehran's access to international finance.
Bessent said Chinese officials had been "very engaged" in the US pressure campaign.
He said Washington was holding positive discussions with Chinese financial authorities, including People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng, over compliance with US sanctions on Iran.
