Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that American sanctions could shut down Iran’s airlines worldwide. Bessent in a CNBC interview said, “All the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world in a matter of days under the weight of American sanctions.”He warned foreign companies that if Iranian planes land, “you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system.
“The US this month imposed sanctions on all remaining Iranian airlines that had not previously faced penalties and also targeted entities outside Iran supporting its aviation sector. Beijing criticised the move. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, “China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council. “The comments came ahead of President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for Thursday.
Bessent had met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng a day earlier for economic discussions ahead of the summit. Bessent had earlier said the US would declare “economic D-Day” on Iran to increase financial pressure on Tehran. China remains a major economic partner of Iran and has repeatedly opposed unilateral US sanctions. The US and Iran have been in conflict since late February after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and senior military officials, with Iran responding by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, raising global oil prices.
