Treasury Sanctions 27 Iranian Airlines Under 'Operation Economic Outcast'

The Treasury Department on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, sanctioned 36 targets — including 27 of Iran's remaining commercial airlines, aircraft-procurement front companies, and cargo service providers — under Executive Order 13902 as part of Secretary Scott Bessent's 'Operation Economic Outcast' campaign. The action targeted Mahan Air (first designated in 2011) and newer carriers including Varesh Airlines, Sepehran Airlines, and Qeshm Air, several of which still fly to Dubai, Muscat, and Kuwait City. Bessent said: 'Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime. Today, we followed through on that promise... 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.' The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network separately alerted US banks to increase scrutiny of transactions linked to Iranian aviation procurement.