US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that diplomatic pressure has prompted regional governments to introduce economic measures targeting Iran's banking and aviation sectors. In the Middle East, the UAE suspended Iranian carrier flights and placed regulatory restrictions on local branches of Iran's Bank Melli. US authorities warned that third-country entities servicing Iranian aircraft face exclusion from the US dollar system.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that global diplomatic efforts to economically isolate Iran are showing results following recent banking and aviation curbs. The UAE has suspended all flights by Iranian airlines and blocked transactions through local branches of Iran's Bank Melli. Turkey and Oman have halted Mahan Air flights, while smaller Iranian carriers continue operating routes to China.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that international diplomatic pressure has led regional partners to impose banking and aviation restrictions on Iran. The measures include flight bans on Iranian carriers by the UAE, Turkey, and Oman, alongside UAE Central Bank transaction blocks on Iran's Bank Melli. US officials reiterated warnings that foreign entities servicing Iranian aircraft face secondary sanctions risks.
An analysis published by Free Malaysia Today indicates that US attempts to enforce a zero-leakage sanctions regime against Iran face significant operational obstacles. Iran's oil trade, of which China purchased an estimated 90% prior to Hormuz disruptions, largely clears outside the US dollar system via renminbi settlements and shadow networks in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Consequently, financial compliance scrutiny is intensifying across financial institutions operating within the China-UAE corridor.
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