Turkey to suspend Mahan Air services after US sanctions hit Turkish partners
Turkey announced it will halt all Mahan Air flights to and from Iran on 21 September following US Treasury sanctions on Turkish ground-service firms linked to the carrier.
The Turkish government will suspend all Mahan Air operations to and from Iran starting 21 September, after the US Treasury sanctioned three Turkish firms for supporting the airline. The Office of Foreign Assets Control’s recent sanctions targeted Iranian civilian airlines and their supply chains, giving a short grace period before enforcement. The three Turkish companies - S Sistem, Mes Cargo and Sky Phoenix - were cited for supplying aircraft components, handling sales and purchasing aircraft for Mahan Air.
A Turkish official explained that the risk now extends to any Turkish service provider involved with the carrier, from airport handling to banking, potentially prompting further investigations. Ankara clarified that the action does not constitute a blanket ban on all Iranian airlines, but it will continue to assess risks based on its aviation agreement with Tehran, safety considerations, and possible additional US measures. Mahan Air, which ran multiple daily flights between Istanbul and Tehran, also announced it will stop services to Oman and Georgia.
Why it matters
The suspension shows how US sanctions can force third-country airlines to cut routes, affecting regional travel and trade.
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