US Treasury Secretary says all Iranian airlines to be grounded from Wednesday

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said all Iranian airlines will be "shut down" starting Wednesday, telling CNBC that Washington was pressuring Iran "like never before."

Bessent's comments point to an escalation of economic and regulatory pressure on Iran's aviation sector, though the treasury secretary did not detail in the cited remarks the specific mechanism by which Iranian airlines would be grounded, whether through sanctions enforcement, flight bans, or other regulatory action.

The United States has for years maintained extensive sanctions targeting Iran's economy, including its aviation industry, as part of a broader campaign aimed at limiting Tehran's access to international finance, technology and services. Iranian airlines have periodically struggled to access aircraft parts and maintenance due to these restrictions.

Bessent's remarks suggest an intensification of these efforts, framed within the administration's broader approach of applying pressure on Iran. The treasury secretary did not specify additional measures beyond the reference to grounding Iranian airlines.

No response from Iranian officials or airlines was included in the reported remarks. The scale and immediate impact of the announced action, including whether it would affect domestic Iranian flights, international routes, or specific carriers, remains unclear based on Bessent's comments.