The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, announced that Washington may impose sanctions on businesses in countries that engage with Iranian airlines. This warning is part of a broader strategy of economic pressure on Tehran amid ongoing tensions.
Bessent emphasized that foreign governments must ensure that companies within their jurisdictions do not provide services to Iranian airlines, including fuel supply, catering, landing fees, and maintenance.
Under the framework of the “Economic Fury” campaign, the U.S. Treasury will exert maximum pressure on Iran and will not hesitate to take action against any third parties that facilitate or conduct business with Iranian organizations, Bessent stated.
This statement follows reports from Iranian state media over the weekend that Iran has resumed commercial flights from Tehran’s international airport for the first time since the onset of the conflict. Planned routes include flights to Istanbul, Muscat, Medina, as well as destinations in Iraq and Qatar.
Bessent also made additional comments, asserting that Iran’s oil industry is declining and that a gasoline shortage is expected soon. He remarked, “While the remaining leaders of the IRGC are stuck like rats in a sewer pipe, Iran’s oil industry is beginning to halt production due to the American blockade. Oil production will soon fall, and a gasoline shortage is anticipated in Iran.”
It is worth noting that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran scheduled for the weekend of April 25-26 were ultimately canceled. Prior to this, the U.S. had imposed sanctions on the Chinese Hengli Petrochemical Refinery and numerous shipping companies and tankers transporting Iranian oil.
Recently, Bessent stated that the U.S. is effectively cutting off the “oxygen” to Russian and Iranian oil exports, asserting that Washington will no longer make concessions to aggressors for the sake of stabilizing global prices.
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that Iran has about three days before its oil infrastructure could explode due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has hindered Iran’s ability to export oil, leading to nearly full storage tanks in the country.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary has warned of potential sanctions against businesses working with Iranian airlines, coinciding with Iran's resumption of commercial flights. This move is part of a larger strategy to exert economic pressure on Iran amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.