WANA (May 29) – A senior Iranian aviation official has dismissed recent threats of escalated sanctions by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, calling them a reflection of Washington’s frustration over the resilience and revival of Iran’s civil aviation sector despite years of restrictions.

 

The statement follows announcements from Washington detailing a new wave of economic pressures targeting Iranian commercial airlines.

 

New U.S. Sanctions Target Flight Rights, Refueling, and Ticketing

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington is taking new steps to tighten economic pressure by imposing severe restrictions on Iranian airlines. Under the directive, Iranian carriers are to be barred from:

 

  • Accessing “takeoff and landing slots” at targeted international airports.
  • Receiving ground refueling services.
  • Utilizing global airline ticketing systems.

 

While these measures mark an explicit escalation from Washington, Iranian officials state that the restrictions largely target areas already restricted by long-standing secondary sanctions.

 

Aviation Authority Responds: “An Expression of Anger, Not Legal Substance”

Seyed Hamidreza Sanei, Deputy for Aviation and International Affairs of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran, characterized the U.S. Treasury’s claims as unfounded.

 

“This is the second time the U.S. Treasury Secretary has put forward such a claim,” Sanei said in an interview. “However, beyond what has been published on the platform X, no formal legal action, statutory mandate, or detailed sanctions resolution has actually been seen.”

 

Sanei argued that the verbal escalation stems from Washington’s frustration with the continuous operations of Iran’s air transport network. “It appears these stances are more a sign of anger triggered by the resumption of our country’s air transport activities despite severe past damages, rather than a formalized legal process,” he added.

 

Sovereignty Violations and the Symbol of Self-Reliance

The Civil Aviation Deputy emphasized that civilian aviation remains a vital locomotive for Iran’s economy, facilitating the transport of critical goods—such as medicine and automotive manufacturing components—and ensuring the mobility of citizens.

 

He noted that the industry serves as a domestic symbol of “industrial steadfastness and self-reliance” after decades of economic blockades.

 

Addressing the threat to strip Iranian airlines of landing rights abroad, Sanei pointed out that such a move by the U.S. breaches the national sovereignty of third-party countries.

 

“Essentially, the United States has historically used political leverage and the tool of secondary sanctions to coerce economic actors in other nations to comply with its own unilateral policies,” Sanei said.

 

He concluded by noting that restrictions regarding refueling and ticketing platforms are “nothing new” to Iranian airlines, which have long operated under the constraints of secondary sanctions.