Iranian airlines shut down is set to begin on Sept. 23, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who outlined sweeping measures intended to halt commercial support for Iran’s carriers.
Speaking in a televised interview, Bessent said the United States will pressure companies and service providers worldwide not to support Iranian aviation. He described the approach as cutting off fuel, landing services and ticket sales, warning that entities that assist the carriers could be excluded from the dollar system. He added that Washington is pressuring Iran like never before by targeting financial enablers, including foreign banks that facilitate Tehran’s activities.
U.S. officials last week announced new sanctions on Russia’s state-controlled VTB Bank, part of a broader campaign to isolate Iran by going after its business partners and other financial backers.
Iranian airlines shut down and UK support to Saudi Arabia
Separately, the United Kingdom will support Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, with the Royal Air Force set to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi aircraft. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters the arrangement would last a matter of weeks and remain under review.
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to assist Riyadh against the rebels over the weekend, reportedly canceling a planned airstrike. Burnham said he was acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, citing the need to keep oil pathways open as Saudi Arabia faces ongoing attacks and potential further disruption.
Houthi forces recently seized Yemen’s Perim Island in the Red Sea, tightening their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. That development, paired with Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, places Tehran and its proxies in a position to exert pressure over two critical global oil choke points.
The Bab el-Mandeb is a key alternative route that allows some Saudi oil to bypass the Strait of Hormuz via the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, enabling exports from the Red Sea.
NATO Secretary Mark Rutte signaled that European nations could also step in to support Saudi Arabia, saying he would not be surprised if allies were coordinating their response.
