US Sanctions on Iran Face Enforcement Challenges in NATO Ally Turkey

The United States' efforts to isolate Iran through sanctions are encountering enforcement challenges within NATO ally Turkey, where dozens of flights operated by U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airlines landed after a key American deadline. Data analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) revealed at least 83 flights by these carriers touched down in Turkey between September 23 and September 27, following a September 8 Treasury Department announcement imposing sanctions on all remaining active Iranian airlines.

The Treasury Department had warned that companies providing services to sanctioned Iranian airlines, such as fuel and landing support, risked losing access to the U.S. financial system after the September 23 deadline. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had stated that Iranian airlines would be "shut down around the world" by that date.

However, FDD researchers identified flights from 12 sanctioned Iranian airlines landing in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Iran Airtour and Caspian Airlines each had 12 landings, Iran Air had 10, and ATA Airlines and AVA Airlines had nine each. Eight of these 12 carriers were among those newly designated by the Treasury on September 8.

The continued flights occur at a sensitive juncture in U.S.-Turkey relations. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to restore Turkey's access to the F-35 fighter jet program, from which Turkey was removed after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system, a move that also triggered U.S. sanctions in 2020. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has indicated he expects the U.S. to take "concrete steps" toward Turkey's return to the program.

While Turkey has taken some measures, such as the suspension of flights by Mahan Air and the removal of flights to Iran by Turkish Airlines, AJet, and Pegasus, other sanctioned airlines continue to operate routes to the country. Mahan Air has been under U.S. sanctions since 2011 for allegedly supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. Caspian Airlines and Meraj Air, designated in August 2014, are accused of transporting IRGC personnel and weapons to Syria and ferrying illicit cargo, respectively.

FDD researchers suggest that the situation reflects a gap between Ankara's public actions and its enforcement against sanctioned Iranian carriers. "The fact that sanctioned Iranian airlines continue to land in Turkey, despite Washington’s clear effort to restrict their operations, is a testament to Ankara’s willingness to take symbolic measures while turning a blind eye to much of Iran’s broader activity," said Ahmad Sharawi, an FDD researcher.

Sharawi proposed that Washington could increase pressure by targeting Turkish companies providing support services to these sanctioned airlines. Such actions, he argued, could significantly restrict Iranian airlines' ability to operate routes to Turkey by reducing the incentive for private Turkish companies to continue business with them.

These findings on air travel come as other organizations raise concerns about potential loopholes in U.S. efforts to isolate Iran economically. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) reported observing a concentration of Iranian-linked tankers and cargo vessels near Malaysia, allegedly being supplied with fuel by Malaysian vessels, which UANI described as a "a floating city" supporting Iran's sanctions-evasion network. UANI has called for sanctions against Malaysian entities involved in this trade, although these claims have not been independently verified for this report.

The Treasury Department stated it has been in communication with senior Turkish officials regarding aviation links to Iran and the sanctions risks faced by Turkish companies. "We have continued discussions regarding Türkiye’s aviation links to Iran and the sanctions exposure Turkish financial institutions and businesses face for facilitating these flights," a Treasury spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We have made those risks clear and continue to address these issues at senior levels with the Turkish government."

Treasury also indicated its broader "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign is yielding results, including a decline in Iran's currency and reduced crude oil exports. The department asserted it will continue to hold accountable those providing financial and commercial lifelines to Iran. Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish and Malaysian embassies for comment but did not receive a response.