Ports

US Expands Iran Sanctions to Target Third-Party Logistics Providers

The Trump administration imposed 36 sanctions against Iranian aviation and supporting firms, threatening supply chain disruptions across the Middle East. Companies from Turkey, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates face restrictions for providing aircraft transfers, cargo services, and ground handling support to Iranian carriers including Mahan Air. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that businesses risk exclusion from the global financial system for conducting transactions with Iranian airlines. The enforcement approach marks an escalation, targeting entities deemed to have knowledge of sanctions violations even if support occurred unintentionally. The Office of Foreign Assets Control enforces penalties through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which identified red flag indicators to detect suspicious activity. Logistics operators handling regional freight must verify counterparty compliance to avoid secondary sanctions exposure and potential operational delays.