Travel disruptions are increasing for Iranian civilians as United States sanctions limit access to airspace for domestic airlines and discourage international carriers from operating in the country. The US Department of the Treasury designated 27 Iranian airlines on September 8, which included major carriers like Iran Air and Mahan, already under heavy sanctions but still conducting limited operations. The recent sanctions also target individuals and entities linked to aviation support and procurement in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, China, India, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that airports and companies providing services to Iranian-operated aircraft risk secondary US sanctions that could exclude them from the US financial system. This marks a new phase in efforts to pressure Iran amid ongoing tensions related to the US-Israel conflict. Following the expiration of a wind-down period, many Iranian flights to Turkiye, the UAE, and China have been canceled.
Several neighboring countries, including Oman, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, have ceased providing services to Iranian airlines, while Baghdad Airport has barred Iranian carriers, although flights to Najaf Airport continue. International airlines have largely halted flights to Iran, with Turkish Airlines suspending operations until at least March 2027, and other major carriers like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa also ceasing flights.
Aviation expert Mohammadreza Ebrahimpour noted that years of sanctions have forced Iranian airlines to rely on third countries and smaller firms for fuel and services, complicating the acquisition of spare parts for aging aircraft. He described the refusal of neighboring countries to service Iranian airlines as a significant escalation in sanctions that could have long-term effects.
The US has effectively prohibited international airlines from using Iranian airspace by suspending authorizations for certain US-origin aircraft and limiting overflight payments, which previously generated over $300 million annually for Iran's aviation sector. The sanctions could jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs in the aviation and related sectors, including tourism and hospitality.
The flight cancellations have led many travelers to seek land routes, particularly through Turkiye and Armenia, where international flights are still available. Reports indicate heavy congestion at border crossings with Turkiye and Armenia, while travel into Azerbaijan remains restricted due to security and COVID-19 measures.
The Shalamcheh and Chazabeh border crossings with Iraq were temporarily closed earlier this month but reopened on September 13. The flight suspensions have resulted in significantly longer travel times for many Iranians, with some facing high prices for bus tickets to Turkiye on the black market.
Young Iranians are particularly affected, as they seek to take international language tests not available in Iran due to sanctions. Concerns have also been raised about the isolation of Iranian academics from the global academic community, with many universities rejecting applications from Iranians due to US education sanctions.
Economic conditions in Iran have worsened, making international travel unaffordable for many citizens. The Trump administration has characterized the sanctions as targeting Iranian authorities, with the US Treasury stating that the aviation restrictions aim to disrupt the use of Iranian commercial aviation for military purposes linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Prior to the latest sanctions, Iran's international aviation network was already severely impacted, with reports indicating a 49% decrease in international capacity from August 2025 to August 2026. The recent flight cancellations are expected to further hinder air imports, exacerbating challenges in maritime trade routes due to the US naval blockade of Iran's southern ports. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of aviation restrictions on Iran's healthcare sector, with reports of significant price increases for medical imports.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the Trump administration of bullying, asserting that Iran's resilience cannot be undermined by war.