Bessent Says US Treasury Teams Have Been Sent to Several Countries to Step Up Economic Pressure on Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington has sent teams to several countries, as part of what he called a campaign of "economic isolation" of Iran, to urge governments to increase economic pressure on Tehran. Donya-e-Eqtesad published the remarks on Sunday morning, 27 September 2026 (5 Mehr 1405).

According to Bessent, the talks have so far led to a halt in Mahan Air flights to Turkey and Oman and a suspension of Iranian airlines' flights to the UAE, and some large commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey have stopped transactions with Iran. He thanked Britain, Turkey, Oman and the UAE for their cooperation. The Wall Street Journal has also reported that Treasury officials have held talks with more than 50 countries on the campaign and that Iran's largest commercial bank has been cut off from transacting in the UAE and Turkey.

Iran's international air links have not been fully cut, however: Imam Khomeini Airport said on Saturday, 26 September (4 Mehr), that flights to Turkey and China were operating. Restrictions on banking channels in the UAE and Turkey are among the most direct channels affecting Iran's access to foreign currency and its currency market.