US increases pressure on Iran with sanctions targeting aviation sector

The United States has put forward a new package of sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector, as the administration of President Donald Trump seeks to ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran.

On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department announced 36 Iran-related sanctions on commercial and private airlines, part of an effort to isolate Iran dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast”.

The penalties expand existing sanctions on the privately owned Iranian airline Mahan Air, while targeting other Iran-based aviation companies, as well as firms that provide them with services.

“Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

“Today, we followed through on that promise with sanctions on companies that continue to support Mahan Air. 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.”

Iran has been subject to years of heavy economic restrictions, and Mahan Air has been under sanctions as far back as 2011, when the US government accused it of supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

But since Trump returned to office for a second term in 2025, he has sought to heighten pressure on the Iranian government.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran that hit its six-month mark in August.