Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that US aviation restrictions have likely shut down 80% to 90% of Iran's external flights. The official framed the measure as part of "Operation Economic Outcast," asserting that Washington is squeezing Tehran like never before.

Speaking on Fox News, Bessent noted uncertainty regarding how the Iranian delegation attending the UN General Assembly in New York would return home. He emphasized that the US has made it clear to financiers, businesses, and suppliers that companies aiding Iran face daily prosecution and account seizures.

Disruptions and Alternative Routes

Reports indicate significant disruption to Iranian air travel following the restrictions. Al Jazeera reported that thousands of travelers were forced to use land crossings into Turkey and Armenia before taking onward flights from those airports.

However, defiance persists. Bloomberg, citing flight tracking data, reported that multiple Iranian aircraft landed in airports in China, Thailand, and Afghanistan despite threats to remove cooperating entities from the dollar system.

Iran Warns Neighbors Against Cooperation

Iranian Security Chief Mohsen Rezaee responded by warning neighboring countries against assisting US measures. In an interview with state TV, Rezaee urged nations not to get involved in what he termed a US adventure, stating that countries cooperating with Washington may find their airports unable to operate.

Rezaee identified Pakistan and Qatar as key mediators influencing the current conditions. He asserted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would convey Tehran's terms in New York, insisting there was no question of changing the country's conditions for a deal.

Strait of Hormuz Stalemate

The diplomatic tension is linked to broader regional security issues. Rezaee explicitly linked the resolution of aviation sanctions to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. "If the United States does not meet these conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor engage in negotiations," he said. On social media platform X, Rezaee added that Iranian diplomacy would not return to the past, demanding action over talk.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei previously challenged President Donald Trump's attribution of rising fuel costs to Iran, asking whose actions created the crisis leading to the Strait's closure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Indian counterpart to discuss potential sanctions targeting countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran.

Key focus of the diplomatic meeting

The discussions centred on the possibility of imposing sanctions on nations maintaining economic engagement with Russia and Iran. The meeting between Rubio and his Indian counterpart brought into focus the diplomatic considerations surrounding India's trade and energy relationships with both countries.

Implications for bilateral engagement

The talks reflect ongoing US efforts to apply economic pressure on countries that continue commercial ties with Russia and Iran. India, as a significant importer of Russian energy and a participant in regional trade frameworks involving Iran, was a central subject of these diplomatic exchanges.