Bessent says Turkey, Oman, UAE moves show Iran sanctions working
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said several governments and banks have cut ties with Iranian aviation and banking under a U.S. sanctions push called Operation Economic Outcast.
What we know
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. Treasury imposed targeted financial measures against banks and aviation service providers as part of what he called Operation Economic Outcast, and that Treasury sent teams abroad to press other countries to act against Iran. [1]
- Bessent said Turkey and Oman announced they would stop Mahan Air flights to their countries, and that the UAE halted all flights by Iranian airlines. [1]
- Bessent said top commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey have stopped transacting with Iran. [1]
- Bessent said Iran's rial has fallen to record lows and that Iran's leadership has acknowledged the war's economic toll. [1]
- Not yet confirmed: The post does not independently verify the actions it attributes to Turkey, Oman, the UAE or named banks; there is no statement here from those governments or institutions confirming the moves. The nature of the underlying conflict Bessent refers to as "the war" is not detailed in this source.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X that a sanctions campaign he called Operation Economic Outcast is producing results against Iran, citing new restrictions on banks and aviation companies tied to the country.
Bessent said Treasury imposed targeted financial measures and dispatched teams "across the globe" to press other governments to act against what he described as the Iranian regime.
According to Bessent, Turkey and Oman announced they would end Mahan Air flights to their countries, while the UAE halted all flights operated by Iranian airlines. Bessent also said leading commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey have stopped transacting with Iran.
Bessent said Iran's currency, the rial, has fallen to record lows, and that Iran's leadership has acknowledged the economic toll of what he referred to as "the war."
"I appreciate the governments of the UK, Türkiye, Oman, and the UAE," Bessent wrote, adding that the U.S. will keep working with those countries, saying more needs to be done "to prevent Tehran from carrying out its terrorist agenda."
Bessent's post did not provide additional detail on the specific measures imposed by the Treasury Department or on the timeline of the described actions by Turkey, Oman and the UAE.