Mahan Air’s flights to Türkiye were suspended, and the decision was communicated to the relevant companies. However, no detailed public decision text has been made available regarding when the measure began or which airports and flights it covers. No announcement explicitly confirming the action from the relevant official aviation authorities in Türkiye has been made public.
The development followed a sanctions action by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeting Iran’s aviation sector. On September 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added 36 targets to its sanctions list under Operation Economic Outcast.
The package also covered Iran’s remaining active airlines, as well as companies in third countries that provide aircraft, parts, logistics, financial and general sales agent services to the aviation sector. The department said the action continued earlier sanctions imposed in April and July 2026 on individuals and entities providing services for Mahan Air’s domestic and international flights.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury alleges that Iran-based commercial-looking airlines have been used to transport weapons, personnel, sensitive technology and illicit cargo. This assessment reflects the official position of U.S. authorities and does not constitute an independent court ruling.
Mahan Air is not being targeted by U.S. sanctions for the first time. On October 12, 2011, OFAC placed the company under sanctions for allegedly providing financial, material and technological support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. In December 2019, the U.S. Department of State again targeted Mahan Air under sanctions authority aimed at individuals and entities supporting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Sanctions pressure expanded during the summer of 2026 through measures targeting networks that provide services to Mahan Air. On September 9, 2026, three Türkiye-based companies were placed on the U.S. sanctions list over alleged ties to Mahan Air. This showed that the risk could extend beyond the airline itself to ground handling, logistics, aircraft supply, maintenance and financing chains.
The suspension of Mahan Air’s Türkiye flights could mean that the practical impact of U.S. sanctions on the Iran-based airline’s operations in Türkiye has increased. It remains unclear, however, whether the measure is being implemented directly by Turkish authorities or through airport operators and service providers. Information about passengers and tickets has also not been clarified under the current circumstances.
