US Claims Success in Iran Aviation Sanctions Amidst Tehran's UN Complaint

KATHMANDU. The United States has claimed that the sanctions imposed on Iran's aviation sector have been successful. The US had imposed sanctions on Iran's entire aviation sector in early September. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that this was part of a pressure campaign that would lead to Iran's 'economic strangulation'. Washington had given foreign companies until September 23 to comply with this ban. Bessent then claimed that all Iranian airlines would be 'shut down worldwide'. He said, 'If they land, do not give them fuel, do not provide landing services, do not sell tickets. Otherwise, you will be removed from the dollar system.' Tehran announced on Monday that it had filed a complaint with the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, calling the US move illegal. Flights from Tehran to 30 international destinations Iran claims to continue to serve about 30 international destinations from Tehran alone. According to the 'tracking website' Flightradar24, a total of 41 flights took off or landed from Tehran International Airport on Sunday. This is less than the daily average of 80 to 90 flights in the two days before the sanctions were imposed. Two main Iranian airlines, Iran Air and privately owned Mahan Air, are said to be the most affected by the sanctions. Of the 24 flights that took off from Tehran airport on Sunday, only five were operated by Mahan Air and two by Iran Air. Before the sanctions, each used to operate about 10 flights. These figures show a greater crisis than Bessent's claim of 80 to 90 percent flight disruption, and much less than the claim that Tehran airport operated 60 flights on Sunday. News broadcast on Iranian national television quoted the airport director as saying, 'Services are still being provided to about 30 or more international destinations.' China, Russia, and Turkey reject sanctions Tehran's main economic partner, Beijing, has completely refused to comply with the US sanctions, calling them 'illegal and unilateral'. Mahan Air flights continue to serve Chinese airports. Flights to Russia and Pakistan are also continuing, although neither country has commented on the sanctions. According to Mahan Airlines, Mahan Air has stopped flights to Turkey at the request of Turkish authorities. Iran Air continues its daily flights to Istanbul. Smaller Iranian flag carriers also serve other cities in Turkey. Sanctions are not yet in effect in Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Malaysia. These countries are mainly served by smaller Iranian airlines. Washington has not announced whether it will take any action against countries that do not comply with the sanctions. Gulf Countries The United Arab Emirates, a major hub for Iranian passengers wanting to travel to Europe, Asia or Africa, has suspended all Iranian flights in its territory 'until further notice'. A source from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Kuwait told AFP on Monday that Iranian airlines have been banned from entering Kuwait since the war began seven months ago. Other Gulf countries have made no announcements, but flight suspensions appear to be in place according to their airport websites. Iran's ISNA news agency quoted airport officials as writing, 'Iranian flights will no longer go to Azerbaijan and Georgia and Iraq. Iraq is seeking an exemption from the sanctions.' The Iraqi government said on Saturday that it was negotiating with the United States for an exemption from the sanctions on Iranian airlines. Iraq claims this has affected the travel of the sick, students, and pilgrims. 'The Iraqi government is in direct talks with the US side to exempt some Iraqi airports from these measures,' the Iraqi Prime Minister's media office said. 'The exemption will allow flights to resume for 'humanitarian reasons including medical treatment, education, religious visits, and the interests of citizens',' the office added. Iranian airlines mainly transport Iraqi Shia pilgrims to holy cities in Iran or serve Iranians going to holy sites in Iraq. These flights also serve Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients seeking medical treatment there.