US Sanctions Dozens Of Iranian Airlines As Tehran-Favored Mahan Air Defiant, Expands Flights

As part of the latest in the Trump-Bessent "asphyxiation of this regime" approach to Iran after six months of military action failed to accomplish most White House aims, the Trump administration on Tuesday announced it is sanctioning all Iranian airlines in a massive aviation crackdown.

The Treasury statement listed 27 Iranian air carriers and nine entities as part of an effort to deny the Iranian government the ability to move "weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo".

"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," Bessent said.

On the list is Ava Airlines, Fly Persia, and Mehr Airways - and others, after the US first sanctioned Mahan Air in 2011, which was the first such instance of Washington sanctioning an Iranian commercial airline.

Related secondary sanctions were implemented on top of the direct airline measures.

"The Treasury Department also sanctioned Turkey-based firms that have coordinated shipments, including drone components and industrial equipment destined for Iran, on behalf of Mahan Air, and it sanctioned a Turkey-based entity that has served as a general sales agent for Mahan Air and coordinated shipments on behalf of the blacklisted airline," The Hill details.

"Other sanctioned entities with ties to Mahan are based in Malaysia and Kazakhstan," the report further indicates.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mocked the 'Economic D-Day' and 'Operation Epic Outcast' sanctions, saying that the fallout of the war "has been disastrous for America, including its standing worldwide."

"After failing to achieve its aims through sanctions or war, Washington’s 'novel' solution is…more sanctions. Seriously?" Araghchi wrote Tuesday afternoon.

The Wall Street Journal has meanwhile noted that Mahan and others continue defying sanctions and the US pressure campaign, while still clearly struggling:

Out-of-date aircraft: Mahan’s three dozen planes tend to be aging, secondhand Boeing and Airbus aircraft, some in service for as long as 35 years. Passengers who post about their trips on social media say there is no onboard entertainment or alcohol, and tickets have to be purchased in cash instead of international credit or debit cards.

New horizons: Despite the lack of amenities, and the sanctions scrutiny, Mahan has been adding new destinations for passenger and cargo services during the war between the U.S. and Iran.

In this new @ForeignAffairs essay, I argue that US officials are being too triumphant about Iran’s economic downturn.

Iran’s leaders are using inflation to engage in financial repression. Counterintuitively, reduced economic activity is helping the state stave off a deeper… pic.twitter.com/jRtAZYEnHG

— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) September 8, 2026

In recent years the Islamic Republic has suffered some significant aerial disasters, which included the May 19, 2024 death of President Ebrahim Raisi. His military helicopter went down in a rugged, mountainous area of northwestern Iran. Some speculate that lack of airline parts and aging aircraft, due to the long-standing US targeting of the industry, has increased the chances of aviation disasters.