US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said all Iranian commercial airline operations across the globe will shut down on Wednesday, September 23. Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Bessent warned that any international hub servicing Iranian planes would face complete exclusion from the American banking system. Foreign operators cannot refuel aircraft, provide landing facilities, or sell passenger tickets without risking their access to dollar clearing.
“On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent said, outlining broad secondary sanctions aimed at isolating Tehran’s civil aviation network. He said the Treasury has sanctioned three banks – the Dubai branch of Banque Misr, Egypt’s second-largest bank, Turkey’s Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi, and Russia’s second-largest bank VTB Bank.He added that Treasury is targeting foreign “enablers” and warned that continuing to deal with Iran poses an “extinction-level event” for businesses. “We’ve seen enablers throughout the world. We know who they are. They know who they are, and we are putting a stop to it,” he said.
On China, Bessent said quiet behind-the-scenes discussions were underway and Chinese financial authorities, including PBOC Governor Pan, have been engaged. The move is seen as a major escalation under the US Treasury’s Operation Economic Fury. Iranian authorities have not responded.
