The U.S. administration of Donald Trump has moved to sanction Iranian airlines. Although the United States and Iran are continuing talks to end the war, the gap over core issues such as Iran's nuclear possession remains wide, causing last-minute friction, and the United States appears to have further raised the level of economic pressure on Iran.
U.S. Treasury Minister Scott Bessent said on the 28th (local time) on X (formerly Twitter), "We will completely block the landing, refueling, and ticket sales of two Iranian airlines." He did not specify which airlines they were.
Minister Bessent said, "The Treasury is continuing an 'economic rage' campaign targeting the Iranian regime," adding, "Iranian soldiers are not receiving pay, and police are not reporting to work. Kharg Island, the country's largest crude oil export hub, is closed." He added, "Iran's economy and currency are plunging."
Earlier, the U.S. Treasury also designated as a sanctions target the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which Iran recently established under the pretext of managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On this, Minister Bessent said, "We have warned that no corporations or state agencies should pay tolls to Iran or disguise such payments as humanitarian aid."
He also stressed, "Only a satisfactory outcome at the talks can end this vicious cycle."