The United States has announced a new package of sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector, as part of ongoing efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran. On September 8, 2026, the US Treasury Department revealed 36 sanctions related to Iranian commercial and private airlines, under an initiative referred to as "Operation Economic Outcast." These sanctions expand existing restrictions on Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline, and also affect other aviation companies based in Iran, as well as firms providing services to them.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, "Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime. 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."
Mahan Air has been under sanctions since 2011 due to accusations of supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctions come as President Donald Trump, who returned to office for a second term in 2025, has intensified pressure on the Iranian government.
In February 2026, the US and Israel initiated military actions against Iran, which have continued without a resolution. Trump has described the recent measures as an “economic D-Day.” Bessent claimed that these sanctions represent the “toughest sanctions in history.”
Despite these efforts, conflicts have persisted, with the US conducting strikes on Iranian tankers and Iran retaliating against US military forces in Jordan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the US approach, stating, "After failing to achieve its aims through sanctions or war, Washington’s ‘novel’ solution is… more sanctions. Seriously?"
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical point in the ongoing conflict, with Iran previously restricting passage through the strait, impacting global fuel prices. The US has accused foreign companies in countries including Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia of supplying parts and logistics to Iranian airline companies. The sanctions also target countries and companies that conduct business with the sanctioned entities, freezing any assets they hold under US jurisdiction.