Turkish Airlines Suspends Iran Flights Amid New U.S. Aviation Sanctions

Turkish Airlines, AJet, and Pegasus Air have suspended all passenger flights to and from Iran, the move coinciding with the enforcement of newly imposed U.S. sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.

According to Israeli channel i24 News, Turkish Airlines’ and AJet’s official booking platforms show no scheduled flights to Iran through March 2027. Pegasus has removed all Iran-bound routes entirely from its reservation system.

U.S. Treasury announces global grounding of Iranian carriers

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a CNBC interview that all Iranian airlines will cease international operations as of September 23. He warned non-Iranian companies continuing to service sanctioned Iranian carriers face severe consequences.

Bessent specified: “If their planes land, you cannot fuel them, you cannot provide landing services, you cannot sell them tickets—otherwise you will be cut off from the dollar system.”

Iraq joins suspension amid compliance concerns

Two Iraqi government sources told AFP that Baghdad will also suspend flights operated by Iranian airlines, effective Tuesday, September 22.

One official confirmed Iraq’s decision aligns with the U.S. Treasury Department’s directive and cautioned that countries failing to comply risk facing U.S. sanctions themselves.

The measure carries particular weight given Iraq’s role as a primary destination for Iranian travelers—especially Shia pilgrims traveling to holy religious sites. Disruption is expected to intensify during peak pilgrimage seasons marked by high-volume travel.

Turkey maintains partial access for Iranian carriers

A Turkish official confirmed Mahan Air remains the only Iranian airline banned from operating flights into Turkey. All other Iranian carriers continue to operate scheduled services between Iran and Turkey at present.