U.S. sanctions that halt most Iranian flights prompt Tehran threats against Gulf states
New U.S. aviation sanctions have stopped an estimated 80–90% of Iran’s international flights, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said, and Iran has responded with threats toward Persian Gulf countries.
Sweeping new U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines have sharply reduced Iran’s ability to fly abroad and triggered fresh threats from Tehran toward neighbouring Gulf states.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said the measures have halted “more than 80% or 90%” of Iran’s international flights. He added that he wasn’t sure how Iranian representatives at the UN planned to get home, a pointed way of describing how isolated the country’s aviation sector has become.
The sanctions target Iranian carriers and the services that keep them flying, cutting into leasing, maintenance, spare parts and access to foreign airports. The immediate effect has been to choke off a primary channel for Iranians to study, seek medical care, visit family or conduct business abroad, while also constraining air cargo.
Following the paralysis of Iran’s aviation sector, Tehran has threatened to attack countries in the Persian Gulf, according to initial reports. Those threats came after the U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines, suggesting Iran wants to raise the costs for regional states that cooperate with Washington or restrict Iranian carriers.
Gulf monarchies now face the familiar dilemma of balancing economic links with Iran against security relationships with the United States. They run major aviation hubs and depend on stable air corridors and shipping lanes, all of which could be affected if Iran seeks to make good on its threats.
Iran has previously used sanctioned airlines, including Mahan Air, to move cargo when sea routes came under pressure. The latest aviation measures therefore hit not only passenger travel but also networks used to transport sensitive goods at a time when Washington is trying to curb Iran’s regional military activities.
Signals to watch include whether Iran announces new restrictions affecting Gulf airlines or regional airspace, any uptick in harassment of Gulf shipping or energy sites, and how strictly Gulf airports apply the U.S. measures to Iranian‑linked carriers. Those reactions will show whether this stays an aviation dispute or widens into a broader security confrontation in the Gulf.
Sources
- OSINT