US warns Iranian airlines of tougher curbs from September 23

The conflict between Iran and the United States, running for the past seven months, shows no sign of ending. Israel has meanwhile drawn the US into this fight while shifting its own focus to Gaza and Lebanon, and the conflict has now become a matter of credibility for Donald Trump.

Because of this, the US is trying every means to make Iran back down. As part of this effort, it has drawn up a plan to shut down Iran's entire passenger and cargo airline operations. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that from September 23, it could become extremely difficult for Iranian airlines to operate international flights anywhere in the world.

According to Bessent, if foreign airports, fuel supply companies, ground handling companies and ticket-selling agencies provide services to Iranian airlines, US sanctions could apply to them as well.

The US says that if Iranian aircraft land in any country, companies there that provide essential facilities or services such as ticket sales to them will risk action. Such companies could also be squeezed economically by being blocked from entry into the US dollar system. Because of this, even without a direct US order, it is being said in international circles that Iranian airlines may find it difficult to obtain essential facilities at foreign airports.

The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on September 8, which included 27 airlines linked to Iran. The US says Iran's aviation sector is being used to carry weapons, people and other banned goods, and that this is the reason for the action.

The pressure is now beginning to show on actual air services. Mahan Air has shut down some of its international services to Turkey and Oman, while Turkey has also imposed restrictions on Mahan Air's services. Iraq too is preparing to ban flights by Iranian airlines.

Iran's aviation system has already been under strain for years because of US sanctions, affecting aircraft parts, maintenance and the purchase of new planes. If pressure now increases on international airports and service providers as well, options could shrink further for passengers travelling out of Iran and into it.