Follow Al Rai
US Treasury Secretary Scott Pence announced on Saturday that he had sent teams around the world to urge action to economically isolate Iran, welcoming a series of decisions targeting Iranian banks and airlines.
Pence wrote on the X platform, "On my instructions, teams have been sent around the world to communicate with countries and demand action against the Iranian regime".
He added, "These efforts are bearing fruit".
Pence pointed to Turkey and Oman halting flights of the private Iranian airline "Mahan Air", as well as the UAE banning all flights of Iranian airlines.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority stated in a Thursday statement, "Flights of Iranian airlines to and from the country are suspended, effective today... until further notice".
Pence also highlighted measures targeting Iranian banks.
The UAE Central Bank announced on Wednesday that it had taken action against the branches of the Iranian "Melli" Bank "due to violations related to combating money laundering, financing terrorism, and financing the proliferation of armaments".
The Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency also revoked the license of the Iranian "Mellat" Bank last week, which has been under Western sanctions for years.
Pence considered that "even the Iranian leadership has acknowledged the economic consequences of the war, as the value of the rial has fallen to record lows".
Jonathan Burke, Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury for Counterterrorism Financing, concluded a two-week tour of the Middle East and Europe this month, and the US Treasury Department has held talks with representatives of more than 50 countries, according to the "Wall Street Journal".
On Monday, Pence confirmed in an interview with CNBC that "all Iranian airlines will cease operations as of September 23", adding, "If these planes land, no one will be able to refuel them, provide landing services, or sell tickets, or they will be excluded from the dollar system".
However, small Iranian airlines continue to operate flights abroad, particularly to China, which refuses to comply with US pressure.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
