US Treasury sanctions 27 Iranian passenger airlines and suspends general license for aircraft return to Iran

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (17 Shahrivar 1405), added 27 Iranian passenger airlines to its sanctions list, including Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman Airlines, Qeshm Air, Kish Airlines, Taban Airlines, Saha Airlines, Zagros Airlines, Varesh Airlines, JSky Airlines, Mehr Airways, Air Shiraz, ATA Airlines, Fly Persia Airlines, Nasim Air and Pars Air. OFAC said several intermediary companies in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia and Kazakhstan identified as linked to Mahan Air were also designated in the same action. At the same time, OFAC suspended General License J1, which had authorized the temporary return of civil aircraft to Iran for short stays, effective September 8, and issued a new General License DD authorizing the wind down of previously permitted civil aviation transactions. According to OFAC's official notice, the action falls under its Iran sanctions programs.