US threatens to shut down Iranian airlines as Houthis tighten pressure on oil routes

The United States has threatened to shut down Iranian airlines globally from Wednesday by imposing secondary sanctions on foreign companies that offer them aviation services, as Houthi forces in Yemen intensify pressure on major regional oil and shipping routes.

Foreign airports, fuel suppliers and ticketing companies may be prohibited from US, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, if continued to provide service to Iranian carriers in the dollar system.

“On September 23, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent told CNBC. He said companies could not sell Iranian aircraft fuel, landing services or tickets without risking US financial penalties, Reuters reported.

The warning comes as Iran-aligned Houthi forces advance in Yemen and threaten strategic routes linking the Red Sea and the Gulf. According to Reuters, the Houthis have reportedly reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about another key route for global energy shipments.

Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia has also stepped up oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following disruptions to other export routes.

The measures against Iranian airlines are part of the broader effort by the Trump administration to step up economic pressure on Tehran.