US sanctions applied to the entire Iranian aviation sector; Trump: Results of our siege "exceed expectations"

US President Donald Trump affirmed that the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran are highly effective. He reiterated that Tehran can no longer acquire a nuclear weapon. Speaking to the press yesterday, Trump said, “We are now engaged in a fight because Iran wanted to possess a nuclear weapon and was very close to obtaining it.” He added, “Tehran no longer has any chance of acquiring a nuclear weapon, and the sanctions imposed on it are effective and yielding results beyond expectations.”

This statement coincided with the US Treasury Department imposing sanctions on “all remaining Iranian airlines” that had previously remained outside the scope of earlier US measures. The Treasury stated that its latest action also targets “36 entities providing support to the Iranian aviation sector, which the regime uses to transport weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo.” In a statement on its official X account, the Treasury added that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted airlines due to their role in supporting the Iranian government’s activities and facilitating the transport of weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies and individuals continuing to do business with sanctioned Iranian airlines face the risk of being cut off from the global financial system. The sanctions also coincided with the suspension of three aviation-related exemptions that had allowed non-US companies to conduct overflights and operate flights to Iran using US-origin aircraft or aircraft under US control. The Treasury clarified that requests related to aviation safety would be reviewed separately. It also issued an alert to financial institutions, including indicators to help them monitor and report transactions linked to networks purchasing aircraft and spare parts for Iran.

Under the new sanctions, all assets and interests of designated entities located within the United States or under the control of US persons are frozen, and most transactions with them are prohibited without a license. The Treasury warned that foreign financial institutions facilitating significant transactions for targeted entities could face secondary sanctions and restrictions on their dealings with the US financial system.

Meanwhile, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned against the risks of normalization with the current “no war, no peace” situation in the region. It emphasized that this state of affairs represents a continuous drain on the resources and economic and developmental capacities of peoples and states, and that its repercussions are not limited to the regional framework; their negative effects extend to the global economy, supply chains, and international economic stability. Ibrahim bin Sultan Al-Hashimi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Ministry, said during the weekly press briefing yesterday that Qatar continues to coordinate and work diligently and consistently with its regional and international partners to revive the negotiation track and push toward political solutions. In this context, he pointed to ongoing cooperation with China, coinciding with the visit of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to Beijing.

He clarified that the primary objective of these diplomatic moves and communications is to resume the diplomatic track and propose practical, balanced ideas that address the genuine concerns and anxieties of all parties, thereby contributing to creating a conducive environment for dialogue and enhancing the chances of reaching sustainable solutions that address the root causes of crises and ensure long-term stability. He stressed that the success of any mediation efforts, initiatives, or proposed ideas remains primarily dependent on the political will of the concerned parties, emphasizing that returning to the negotiating table and adopting peaceful means to resolve crises remain the only option capable of sparing the region further tension, escalation, and depletion, and opening the door to more stable and secure approaches that serve the interests of all the peoples of the region.

Regarding maritime navigation security and the economic implications linked to regional developments, Al-Hashimi affirmed that the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as an international waterway is a top priority for Qatar and all countries in the region, given the strait’s vital importance for global trade movements, energy supplies, and regional and international economies.

For her part, South Korea announced the dispatch of a fact-finding mission to assess the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, confirming that it has not yet made any decision regarding the potential deployment of forces there. The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated in a release that it “has sent a fact-finding team to assess the ground situation in the Strait of Hormuz.”