The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 36 targets under Operation Economic Outcast, including 27 remaining active Iranian airlines and nine persons or entities tied to Mahan Air’s aircraft procurement, cargo operations and general sales support. These are the first airline designations under the August 2026 determination targeting Iran’s aviation sector. OFAC also suspended three Iran-related aviation authorizations covering overflights and flights into Iran by non-U.S. airlines using U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial aircraft, although it will consider aviation safety requests individually. The action targets networks that allegedly used front companies, foreign intermediaries and transshipment routes to obtain U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive technology. It includes firms and an individual linked to the transfer of at least three Boeing 777 aircraft to Mahan Air through the United Arab Emirates and Oman, as well as service providers that coordinated shipments or represented the airline internationally. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network separately issued an alert asking financial institutions to identify and report suspicious activity involving Iranian aircraft and parts procurement, including transactions in which Iran’s involvement is obscured through third-country companies. Property and interests in property of designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, as are entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them, while foreign firms and financial institutions may face sanctions, including secondary sanctions, for certain transactions involving the designated parties.
2026-09-08U.S. Department of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions 36 targets supporting Iran’s aviation sector and suspends three authorizations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned 36 targets, including 27 remaining active Iranian airlines and nine parties supporting Mahan Air, and suspended three aviation authorizations involving Iran. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also alerted financial institutions to detect and report procurement networks using front companies and third-country intermediaries. The measures create blocking and potential secondary sanctions exposure for firms dealing with the designated parties.