Three Turkish airlines cancel flights to Iran as US sanctions take effect

Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus have cancelled flights to and from Iran, with the changes taking effect Monday. The Turkish Airlines and AJet websites show no flights to Iran until March 2027, while Pegasus has removed Iran flights from its booking system entirely.

These actions come as US sanctions take effect. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview that all Iranian airlines would be shut down worldwide starting September 23. Bessent said companies that continue servicing sanctioned Iranian carriers would face severe consequences.

"If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system," Bessent said.

Iraq will also suspend flights by Iranian airlines starting Tuesday, according to two Iraqi government sources who spoke to AFP. One official said Iraq would enforce the ban in line with the US Treasury decision, warning that countries failing to comply risk sanctions themselves.

Iraq is a major destination for Iranian travelers, particularly Shiite Muslims visiting holy sites, making the suspension especially significant during periods of heavy religious travel.

According to a Turkish official, Mahan Air remains the only Iranian carrier currently barred from flying to Turkey, leaving other Iranian airlines still able to operate between the two countries for now.