The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned 36 targets across Iran’s aviation sector on September 8, 2026, including 27 Iranian airlines, and confirmed that Mahan Air acquired at least three Boeing 777s through third countries during the summer of 2026.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the September 8 action was the first wave of airline sanctions imposed under a new aviation-sector determination announced on August 24, 2026. Treasury described the 27 carriers targeted as Iran’s remaining active airlines.
Those named include Iran Aseman Airlines, Qeshm Air, Zagros Airlines, Kish Airlines, Saha Airlines, Taban Airlines, Ata Airlines and Iran Air Tour. Saha Airlines was one of three Iranian carriers the European Union sanctioned in October 2024 over weapons transfers to Russia.
OFAC suspended three Iran-related aviation authorizations, covering overflights and permission for non-US airlines to fly US-origin or US-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran. Treasury said it will consider aviation safety-related requests case by case.
Mahan Air acquired Boeing 777s through third countries
The sanctions announcement also shed new light on how Mahan Air continued expanding its long-haul fleet despite US restrictions on the supply of Western-built aircraft to Iran.
Treasury said the three aircraft came from a retired fleet and were diverted through the United Arab Emirates and Oman, taking on temporary registrations while held by Sharjah-based ECT Aviation Support. Türkiye-based Sky Phoenix Hava Yollari Tasimaciligi Ticaret Limited Sirketi acted as a second intermediary. The routing closely tracked earlier transfers to Mahan Air, according to the release.
OFAC sanctioned both ECT Aviation Support and Sky Phoenix for their role in the transfers. It also designated ECT’s Egyptian owner and chief executive, Ibrahim Ali Mohamed Mohamed Mahran, its UK subsidiary ECT Aviation Support LTD, and UAE-based Aerobravo Airplane Management and Operation LLC, which Treasury said has operated aircraft owned by the Sharjah firm.
ECT Aviation Support publicly denied any role in moving former Saudia 777s to Iran in a statement posted on July 6, 2026.
Four cargo handlers and general sales agents were designated for servicing Mahan Air’s international flights: S Sistem Lojistik and Mes Cargo in Türkiye, Icargo in Malaysia and Tour Invest in Kazakhstan. Treasury said S Sistem coordinated shipments of unmanned aerial vehicle components and industrial equipment bound for Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said companies dealing with the designated carriers risk being “cut off from the global financial system.”
US banks warned over Iranian aviation procurement
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a parallel alert the same day asking banks to report procurement activity tied to Iranian aviation. Bessent had said on September 2, 2026, that airlines and leasing companies were under review as sanctions targets.