The U.S. Treasury Department designated 27 Iranian commercial airlines and companies facilitating their operations as part of a broad campaign to isolate Iran's economy. The action, which blocks the entities from the U.S. financial system, targets airlines that Treasury said have supported the Iranian government's destabilizing activities and weapons procurement.
The designations are part of "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign announced in August to cut off the Iranian regime's remaining economic lifelines. "Any person that assists Iran's aviation sector, from the provision of general sales agent services through to support to Iran's covert aircraft procurement schemes, will be held accountable," Treasury said in a statement.
Among the airlines designated are Air Shiraz, Iran Aseman Airlines, Kish Airlines, Qeshm Air and Saha Airlines. The Treasury also designated third-country companies accused of facilitating airline operations: ECT Aviation Support LLC (based in the United Arab Emirates), Sky Phoenix (Turkey), S Sistem Lojistik Hizmetler (Turkey), Mes Cargo (Turkey), Icargo SDN BHD (Malaysia) and Tour Invest (Kazakhstan).
Treasury said Iranian airlines have engaged in "deceptive practices" to procure aircraft. In summer 2026, Mahan Air received at least three Boeing 777 aircraft routed through the United Arab Emirates and Oman using front companies to obscure Iran's involvement, the agency said.
Treasury also suspended three Iran-related aviation authorizations that had permitted overflights by non-U.S. airlines using U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled aircraft into Iran. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a separate alert to financial institutions flagging red-flag indicators in aircraft and aircraft-parts procurement schemes used by Iran.