The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned the Turkish airport ground services company Fugo for providing services to sanctioned Iranian airlines.
Details of the Fugo Sanction
This action follows Washington's pressure to limit Iran's international aviation activities and cut off foreign companies' connections with Iranian airlines. Turkish airports, especially in Istanbul and Ankara, continue to provide services to sanctioned Iranian airlines, and flights from these companies to Turkish airports are ongoing.
Impact of Sanctions on Iranian Flights
Due to U.S. sanctions against Iranian airlines, countries such as Iraq, Georgia, Oman, and the UAE have halted flights from Iranian companies. As a result, flights to Baghdad, Erbil, Tbilisi, Batumi, Muscat, and Dubai have been suspended. Currently, Istanbul Airport in Turkey hosts the most foreign flights from Iran and has become a hub for Iranian passengers traveling to other parts of the world.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Fugo Grand Services for operating in the aviation sector of Iran's economy. This was stated in an official announcement from the department titled "Economic Exclusion Operations."
Consequences of Fugo's Sanction on Iranian Airlines
The sanctioning of Fugo could complicate the operations of Iranian airlines at Turkish airports, especially regarding ground services, operational support, and collaboration with international companies. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Turkish-based Fugo has continued to provide ground and airport services to several sanctioned Iranian airlines.
The department stated that Fugo had direct service contracts with the sanctioned Iranian airlines, including Iran Airtour, Saha, Sepahan, Varsh, Taban, and Ata. According to U.S. officials, Fugo began providing services to several of these companies in the weeks following their sanctioning on September 8, 2026.
This sanction is part of the campaign known as "Economic Exclusion Operations" by the previous U.S. administration against Iran, aimed at limiting Iran's oil revenues and pressuring economic and transportation networks associated with Tehran. Scott Basset, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, stated in the department's announcement that Washington will continue to target individuals supporting the Iranian government.
