UAE suspends Iranian airline flights under new US sanctions

Overview

Updated Sep 25

On Thursday, the UAE suspended all flights by Iranian airlines to and from the country. The decision closes Dubai — the Gulf's biggest travel hub, with multiple daily Iran flights and a large Iranian community — to Iranian carriers.

The suspension follows a US threat to cut any foreign firm that services Iranian airlines from the dollar system. Washington's campaign, which President Trump calls 'economic D-Day,' has now grounded Iran's regional air network as Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan also restrict access.

Why it matters

If the ban holds, Iran loses its main air links to the Gulf, deepening its economic crisis as Washington tightens a financial blockade.

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Key Indicators

Airlines targeted by US sanctions

Treasury hit 27 Iranian airlines and dozens of supporting companies.

Countries restricting Iranian airlines

UAE, Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan.

Bank Melli Iran branches in UAE

All barred from conducting transactions with Iran.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Scott Bessent

US Secretary of the Treasury

Leading enforcement of secondary sanctions on Iran's aviation sector

Majid Akhavan

Spokesman, Iran's Civil Aviation Organization

Pursuing diplomatic talks to restore flights

Organizations Involved

UAE General Civil Aviation Authority

Government aviation regulator

Suspended Iranian airline flights until further notice

The UAE's civil aviation regulator, which halted Iranian carrier flights effective September 24.

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Federal agency

Imposing secondary sanctions on Iran's aviation sector

The US agency imposing sanctions that cut foreign firms from the dollar system if they deal with Iranian airlines.

Bank Melli Iran

State-owned bank

Barred from UAE-Iran transactions

Iran's largest lender, whose eight UAE branches can no longer send money to or from Iran.

Timeline

6 events Latest: September 24th, 2026 · 2 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
UAE suspends Iranian airline flights
Latest Ban

GCAA halts all Iranian carrier flights until further notice; Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan also restrict access.
September 24th, 2026
Iran threatens retaliation over airport ban
Statement

Senior Iranian official warns that airports in countries enforcing the ban could be made 'unusable.'
September 24th, 2026
US deadline for Iran airline work expires
Sanctions

Global firms face secondary sanctions after today if they continue dealing with Iranian carriers.
September 23rd, 2026
UAE bars Bank Melli Iran from Iran transfers
Regulation

UAE Central Bank prohibits the bank's eight branches from transactions with Iran over money-laundering failures.
September 22nd, 2026
Bessent threatens dollar-system exclusion
Statement

Treasury secretary warns that foreign firms servicing Iranian airlines will be cut off from the dollar system.
September 21st, 2026
US Treasury sanctions Iran's aviation sector
Sanctions

Washington targets 27 Iranian airlines and dozens of supporting companies, warning airports not to service Iranian carriers.
September 14th, 2026

Scenarios

Gulf air ban holds, Iran's isolation deepens

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Al-Monitor

UAE and other Gulf states keep Iranian carriers grounded through year's end. Trade and travel ties with the Gulf — among Iran's most important — stay cut, worsening an economic crisis already facing a sea blockade of Iranian ports. The ban could extend to further restrictions as Washington maintains enforcement.

Diplomatic talks restore flights

Deadline passed (Oct 31, 2026)

Discussed by: Iran Civil Aviation Organization, Tasnim news agency

Iran says diplomatic and aviation talks are underway to remove restrictions. If the UAE negotiates an exemption or Washington softens enforcement, service could resume within weeks. This outcome depends on whether Tehran offers concessions that satisfy the US campaign.

Iran retaliates against complying airports

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Senior Iranian official via Tasnim

Tehran has threatened to make airports 'unusable' in any regional country that enforces the US ban. An attack or forced closure at a Gulf airport would sharply escalate the US-Iran standoff, which has been largely stalemated militarily for months. This scenario could draw direct Gulf states deeper into the conflict.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2018

US withdraws from JCPOA, reimposes sanctions (2018)

President Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran's oil, banking and shipping sectors. Foreign companies were forced to choose between the Iranian market and access to the US financial system.

Then

Iranian oil exports collapsed and the economy shrank sharply within a year.

Now

Established the playbook of using dollar-system access as leverage to pressure Iran without direct military action.

Why this matters now

Today's aviation ban uses the same leverage — threatening exclusion from the dollar system — but extends it to airlines and airports, not just banks and oil buyers.

2010-2011

Iran Air grounded by Western sanctions (2010-2011)

The EU banned Iran Air in 2010 over suspected weapons shipments to Syria, and the US Treasury sanctioned the airline in 2011. Iran's national carrier lost its European routes, isolating the country's air network.

Then

Iran Air was limited to regional and domestic routes, complicating trade and travel.

Now

Aviation became a permanent pressure point in Western sanctions design against Iran.

Why this matters now

This grounding was targeted at one carrier. The current US campaign hits 27 airlines at once and leans on third-country regulators to enforce the ban, widening the isolation.