Trump blacklists 27 Iranian airlines to tighten economic squeeze as oil hits $100

Donald Trump’s administration sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines Tuesday as oil edged closer to $100 a barrel. The Treasury Department targeted several related entities as Washington tries to squeeze Iran out of the global financial system.

The move is part of “Operation Economic Outcast” and covers every Iranian airline that had not already been sanctioned.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned anyone still doing business with them. “Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system,” Scott said.

Fighting around the Strait of Hormuz keeps dragging more countries into a war that has lasted more than six months.

Iranian forces and groups backed by Tehran are attacking targets near the key shipping route and elsewhere in the region. Iran can slow ship traffic enough to squeeze oil flows and keep some leverage.

Trump believes that it is the United States and not Iran that has control of the water body. However, his government has been skeptical of ship-tracking data which shows that there is low activity compared to before the war. The conflict escalated further Tuesday after Houthis attacked several oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

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