The Treasury Department has launched a sweeping sanctions strike against Iran’s aviation sector, targeting 36 airlines, companies, intermediaries, and individuals accused of sustaining the regime’s weapons movement and terror operations.

The action comes under Operation Economic Outcast, Washington’s expanding campaign to sever Tehran from global finance.

Treasury officials said Iran uses commercial aviation networks to transport weapons, personnel, illicit cargo, and sensitive technology.

The crackdown also reaches covert front companies, foreign facilitators, cargo services, and deceptive transfer routes used to obtain American aircraft and controlled aviation equipment.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent framed the sanctions as a warning to businesses still willing to help Tehran evade American restrictions.

His message left little room for the usual diplomatic fog.

“Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent .

“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.”

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The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 27 remaining active Iranian airlines for operating within Iran’s aviation sector.

Treasury said these carriers function inside an industry that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has exploited to advance destabilizing activities abroad while maintaining a civilian appearance.

Mahan Air remains a central target because of its history of supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force.

American officials first designated the airline under counterterrorism authority in 2011 and later targeted it under an executive order aimed at weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters.

Treasury also suspended three aviation authorizations connected to Iran, including permissions involving overflights and certain flights by foreign airlines operating American origin or American controlled commercial aircraft.

Officials said requests tied to aviation safety may still be considered individually.

The department made clear that foreign companies cannot expect a free pass simply because they operate outside the United States.

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Firms enabling aircraft transfers, cargo operations, sales representation, or hidden procurement schemes could face blocked property, restricted financial access, and secondary sanctions.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also issued an alert urging financial institutions to identify and report suspicious transactions connected to Iranian aircraft procurement.

The alert describes warning signs involving front companies, vague transaction details, unusual logistics arrangements, and entities posing as legitimate technology or aviation businesses.

Treasury highlighted a 2026 operation in which Mahan Air allegedly received at least three B 777 aircraft routed through the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Officials said companies based in the Emirates and Türkiye acted as intermediaries after the aircraft came from a retired fleet and received temporary registrations.

ECT Aviation Support in the Emirates and Sky Phoenix in Türkiye were sanctioned for materially assisting Mahan Air.

Treasury also designated Egyptian national Ibrahim Ali Mohamed Mohamed Mahran, a British affiliate of ECT Aviation Support, and Aerobravo Airplane Management for their alleged roles in the network.

The action further targeted cargo providers and general sales agents accused of coordinating shipments for Mahan Air.

Those businesses allegedly handled industrial equipment, drone components, and American origin parts while providing the airline with sales, shipping, and customer support services.

Among the designated companies were S Sistem and Mes Cargo in Türkiye, Icargo in Malaysia, and Tour Invest in Kazakhstan.

Treasury said these firms provided material support or services to Mahan Air, placing them directly in the path of American counterterrorism sanctions.

Operation Economic Outcast was announced by Bessent on August 24, 2026, during what Treasury called Economic D Day.

The campaign is designed to map and dismantle the financial channels Iran uses to smuggle oil, evade sanctions, support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and fund terrorism.

Under the new action, property belonging to designated parties that enters the United States or comes under American control must be blocked and reported.

Companies owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons are also subject to restrictions, even if their names do not appear separately on sanctions lists.

Treasury warned that violations can bring civil or criminal penalties against American and foreign parties.

Foreign financial institutions knowingly handling major transactions for designated persons may also lose access to correspondent accounts in the United States, a consequence likely to focus the minds of executives tempted by Tehran’s business.

The message is straightforward: Iran’s aviation shell game now carries a potentially ruinous price.

Companies helping the regime move aircraft, parts, weapons, or personnel may discover that access to America’s financial system is far more valuable than serving Tehran’s terror machine.

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