US imposes Iran sanctions on Turkish companies

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has announced that it has added three Turkey-based companies to its sanctions list as part of a new package of sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector.

In the ministry's statement, it was alleged that Sky Phoenix Hava Yolları Taşımacılığı Ticaret Limited Şirketi, S Sistem Lojistik Hizmetleri Anonim Şirketi, and MES Kargo Taşımacılık Turizm ve Dış Ticaret Limited Şirketi provided support to the Iranian airline Mahan Air.

As part of a campaign conducted by the US under the name "Economic Isolation Operation," sanctions decisions were taken against a total of 36 individuals and entities. The list includes 27 airlines operating in Iran, as well as service providers and intermediaries based in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan.

BOEING 777 AND SHIPMENT ALLEGATIONS

The US Department of the Treasury claimed that Mahan Air received at least three Boeing 777 passenger aircraft in the summer of 2026, which were routed through the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The statement alleged that UAE-based ECT Aviation Support and Turkey-based Sky Phoenix were used as intermediaries in the transfer of US-origin aircraft to Mahan Air.

According to the ministry, the aircraft in question came from previously retired fleets, received temporary registration numbers after being delivered to the UAE, and were subsequently transferred to Mahan Air. Sky Phoenix was added to the list under Executive Order 13224 for allegedly providing material, financial, or technological support, or goods or services to Mahan Air.

The statement asserted that S Sistem coordinated shipments sent to Iran on behalf of Mahan Air, and that these shipments included unmanned aerial vehicle parts and industrial equipment. It was further alleged that MES Kargo acted as a general sales agent for Mahan Air and coordinated shipments on behalf of the Iranian airline.

The accusations leveled by US authorities against the companies have not been verified by independent sources. There has also been no public statement from the companies regarding the sanctions decision as of yet.

WARNING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Simultaneously with the sanctions decision, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Treasury Department issued a separate warning to financial institutions. FinCEN alleged that Iranian airlines use front companies in different regions to procure US and Western-origin aircraft and aircraft parts.

The warning claimed that there are findings indicating that shipping agents and smuggling networks in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are being utilized to deliver controlled goods to Iran. FinCEN requested that banks examine transactions believed to be linked to Iran's procurement of aircraft and aircraft parts and report suspicious activities.

Under the decision, the assets of the individuals and entities added to the sanctions list that are located in the US or under the control of US citizens will be blocked. Companies in which the listed individuals or entities hold a 50 percent or greater interest, directly or indirectly, will also be subject to restrictions.

The US Department of the Treasury also stated that foreign financial institutions that conduct significant transactions on behalf of the sanctioned companies may face the risk of secondary sanctions.

News Source: 12punto