US Expands Operation Economic Outcast to Target Iranian Aviation

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the expansion of Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign combining military action, a naval blockade, and financial pressure to isolate Iran. Starting Wednesday, the US imposed sanctions on airport operators and service providers supporting Iranian carriers, with Bessent claiming that 80% to 90% of Iran's external flights have been shut down.

Bessent warned that entities ignoring these penalties would be removed from the US dollar system. He described the effort as an attempt to cut off the financial oxygen to the Iranian government, asserting that the US is squeezing the country more severely than ever before.

Despite these claims, flight tracking data and airport reports indicate that Iranian airlines continue to operate international services to China, Turkey, Thailand, and Afghanistan. While Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the UAE have reportedly implemented bans, officials in Thailand stated they have received no government directives to halt flights. Some carriers, including Mahan Air, suspended flights to Oman and Turkey due to local directives, while others, such as Iran Air, continued flights to Istanbul.