The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and nine foreign entities, cargo providers and sales agents, as it widened Operation Economic Outcast to Iran’s aviation sector and targeted companies accused of helping Mahan Air obtain U.S.-origin aircraft.
Treasury Expands Sanctions Across Iran’s Airlines
Treasury said OFAC designated 36 targets and suspended three Iran-related aviation authorizations, including permissions for overflights and certain non-U.S. flights into Iran.
“Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press release. “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.”
Mahan Air Network Faces Wider Crackdown
Treasury said Mahan Air received at least three Boeing 777 aircraft this summer after retired jets were routed through the United Arab Emirates and Oman. UAE-based ECT Aviation Support and Turkey-based Sky Phoenix allegedly acted as intermediaries before the aircraft reached Mahan.
Washington first sanctioned Mahan Air in 2011 for supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. Treasury again targeted its overseas network in July.
Tuesday’s action also hit cargo and sales agents in Turkey, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. Treasury said Turkey-based S Sistem coordinated shipments including drone components and industrial equipment, while Malaysia-based Icargo handled U.S.-origin parts for Mahan Air.
Operation Economic Outcast Broadens Financial Pressure
The crackdown builds on Bessent’s Aug. 24 launch of Operation Economic Outcast, which he branded an “economic D-Day” aimed at severing Iran’s remaining financial lifelines. The campaign initially targeted nearly 60 Iran-linked entities, individuals and vessels and expanded across aviation, shipping, technology, gold and digital assets. Treasury said the operation is designed to systematically close the regime’s financial resources.
The administration has since widened the campaign to banks and shadow-finance networks. Bessent recently warned that Iran’s economy could collapse “within weeks or months”, while saying Washington’s goal was to make the regime “come to their senses.”
Under Tuesday’s designations, U.S.-based property of sanctioned targets is blocked, and Americans are generally prohibited from transacting with them. Treasury warned foreign firms that aircraft transfers, cargo services or sales-agent support for sanctioned Iranian airlines could trigger penalties.
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