The United States has launched a military operation called “Epic Fury” against the Iranian regime since February 28th. Following this, the U.S. Department of the Treasury also began the “Economic Fury” action against Iran, aiming to choke off Iran’s economic lifeline and compel it to abandon its nuclear ambitions. On Monday, April 27th, U.S. Treasury Secretary Benson issued a warning that conducting business with sanctioned Iranian airlines may face the risk of U.S. sanctions.
Benson posted on X on Monday that engaging in business with sanctioned Iranian airlines carries the risk of violating U.S. sanctions. “Foreign governments should take all necessary measures to ensure that companies within their jurisdiction do not provide services to these aircraft, including aviation fuel, catering, landing fees, or maintenance services,” the Treasury Secretary warned.
He further stated that under the “Economic Fury” plan, the U.S. Treasury Department will exert maximum pressure on Iran and take action without hesitation against any third party facilitating Iran entities or conducting business with them.
Currently, Iran has resumed some commercial flights. Iran’s state television announced that flights to Turkey, Oman, and Saudi Arabia took off from the Iranian capital, Tehran, last Saturday.
The U.S. Treasury Department recently activated the “Economic Fury” plan to increase pressure on Iran using financial tools. The Treasury Department has targeted a global asset network that reportedly helps sustain Iran’s oil trade. It has also written to banks in China, warning them that if they continue to facilitate Iran’s oil transactions, secondary sanctions will be imposed.
Last Friday, the Treasury Department announced the successful freezing of cryptocurrency assets related to Iran, worth $344 million, aimed at systematically weakening the Iranian regime’s ability to generate, transfer, and repatriate funds.
Over the past weekend, U.S. President Trump canceled the planned trip of the American delegation to Islamabad and Iran for negotiations. The President stated that there will be no long flights for American representatives in the future for negotiations.
Several media outlets have reported, citing sources, that Iran has submitted a new proposal to the United States through mediators: Iran will lift the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting the blockade on Iranian ports and ending the war. However, the proposal would defer the nuclear issue that concerns the United States to later stages of negotiation.
On Monday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump convened the National Security Council to discuss Iran’s newly submitted proposal. She reiterated that President Trump’s red line on the Iran issue is very, very clear.