The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively grounded if airports and service providers refuse fuel, landing services or ticket sales — penalties that could include expulsion from the dollar system. The threat coincides with Iran sending a delegation led by President Masoud Pezeshkian to the UN General Assembly and briefly pushed oil prices lower. Washington presents the measure as increased pressure to force Tehran back to negotiations, while Iran has warned of strong retaliation if attacked.
U.S. Threatens Global Grounding of Iranian Airlines By Cutting Off Fuel, Landing Services and Ticketing
U.S. Threatens to Ground Iranian Airlines Worldwide
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Iranian carriers could face a de facto global shutdown as soon as tomorrow if airports and service providers refuse to refuel them, provide landing services or sell tickets — actions that, he said, would lead to removal from the dollar system. The statement marks a sharp verbal escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran even as diplomatic activity and volatile energy markets continue to unfold.
"How do we do that? That if they land, you cannot provide them with fuel. You cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system," Bessent told CNBC.
The warning comes as delegations gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where hopes briefly rose for progress after Iran announced it would send a delegation led by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Energy analysts said that news contributed to a pullback in oil prices last week and on Monday, before benchmarks moved higher again largely on short-covering.
Administration officials framed the move as pressure to bring Iran back to the negotiating table rather than an offer of concessions. Bessent said the U.S. was exerting pressure "like never before," language that echoed comments attributed to President Trump over the weekend, during which he reportedly said the only way for the conflict to end was by "wiping Iran out" or letting its economy "rot," according to a Fox News interview.
Iran’s military command, meanwhile, warned of an imminent attack involving the United States and allied states, and pledged a forceful response if struck. The statement said Tehran would target U.S. positions and interests across the region with "sustained, effective and painful attacks" should Washington make a misstep.
"If the U.S. makes any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all its positions and interests in the region will be targeted by sustained, effective and painful attacks," the central military command said.
The move to pressure aviation and related services raises immediate logistical and legal questions for airports, fuel suppliers and travel agents worldwide. If implemented, it could disrupt commercial operations, complicate regional and international travel, and further raise geopolitical and market uncertainty.
By Irina Slav for OilPrice.com.
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