- US sanctions 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902
- 36 additional entities and individuals also sanctioned for aviation supplies
- One of the 36 additional companies has an office based in Blackrock, co Dublin.
- Sanctions target companies in UAE, Türkiye and England
- Mahan Air acquired three Boeing 777s during summer 2026
- FinCEN issues alert on Iran aviation transactions
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902, the first carriers designated since Washington determined on 24 August 2026 that Iran’s aviation sector is subject to sanctions. The newly sanctioned carriers include Air Shiraz, Asa Jet, ATA Airlines, Atlas Air, Ava Airlines, Chabahar Airlines, Erwan Airline Company, Fly Kish, flyPersia, Iran Airtour Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, JSKY Airlines, Kish Air, Karun Airlines, Lad Airways, Mehr Airways, Nasim Air, Pars Air, Qeshm Airlines, Raimon Airways, Saha Airlines, Sepehran Airlines, Soroush Air, Taban Air, Toos Airline, Varesh Airlines and Zagros Airlines.
OFAC also sanctioned 36 additional entities and individuals that it claimed support Iran’s aviation sector through front companies, foreign intermediaries and procurement networks used to acquire US-origin aircraft and sensitive technology. The sanctions target companies in the UAE, Türkiye and England accused of helping Mahan Air to procure US-origin aircraft and support its flight operations. According to the Treasury, Mahan Air acquired at least three Boeing 777s during the summer of 2026 through intermediary companies in the UAE and Oman after the aircraft left retired fleets.
Among the sanctioned companies is ECT Aviation Ltd. in Ireland is located at: 15a Main Street, Pod 2, The Old Station House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 YN67 .The parent group, ECT Aviation Support (ECT Aviation Group), maintains its primary headquarters in Sharjah, UAE. They expanded their footprint into Ireland for specialised operation.
The sanctions immediately block all property and property interests of designated persons within US jurisdiction or controlled by US persons. Entities owned 50pc or more by sanctioned parties are also blocked while US persons are generally prohibited from dealing with designated parties unless authorised. The Treasury warned that violations may result in civil or criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions for sanctioned persons could face secondary sanctions including restrictions on access to the US financial system.
Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary, shared: “Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system.”
