Scott Bessent said that all Iranian airlines would be shut down from September 23.
The move comes after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that all Iranian airlines would be shut down from September 23 through the threat of secondary sanctions against aviation service providers, seven months into the war between the United States and Iran.
“When Iranian airlines land at an airport, 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. Iranian news agency Tasnim said earlier, citing the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, that flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat had been cancelled from Wednesday. It said other international flights, including those to Istanbul, would continue to operate according to schedule.
The Iraqi government is also discussing diverting Iranian Airways flights from Baghdad to Najaf airport, they added. The suspension will begin at midnight on Wednesday, the sources said.