Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Announces Global Measures to Isolate Iran

In Washington, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Saturday that he had dispatched envoys globally to urge nations to economically isolate Iran, highlighting recent sanctions on its airlines and banks.

He told X that, at his direction, teams had been sent worldwide to engage with governments and demand action against the Iranian regime, noting that these initiatives are yielding results.

Bessent said Turkey and Oman have suspended inbound flights from Mahan Air, a private Iranian carrier, and the United Arab Emirates has prohibited all flights operated by Iranian airlines.

Dubai, the UAE’s principal commercial hub, remains a primary destination for Iranian carriers, handling multiple daily flights and serving a sizable Iranian community with extensive business connections.

Bessent also underscored the introduction of new banking restrictions.

On Wednesday, the UAE Central Bank froze transactions involving Iran’s Bank Melli, citing violations of anti‑money‑laundering, counter‑terrorism and arms‑proliferation regulations.

Last week, Turkey revoked the operating license of Iran’s Bank Mellat, a semi‑private institution that has been under Western sanctions for years.

According to a Wall Street Journal article shared by Bessent, Jonathan Burke, the Treasury’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing, traveled throughout the Middle East and Europe over two weeks to advance a plan that Bessent described as “economic D‑Day” against Tehran.

The Treasury has conducted discussions with more than 50 countries, the Journal reported.

Bessent stated on Monday that all Iranian airlines “will be shut down worldwide.”

Nevertheless, smaller Iranian carriers continue to operate international routes, especially to China, which has resisted yielding to U.S. pressure.

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