U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that all Iranian airlines will be grounded from September 23, emphasizing that they will be denied fuel, landing services, and ticket sales, effectively removing them from the global dollar system. This action is part of an intensified U.S. effort to pressure Iran by targeting its financial enablers, including recent sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank.
Concurrently, the U.K. is supporting Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, with air-to-air refueling assistance from the Royal Air Force. This support aims to secure oil supply routes, particularly in light of Houthi control over strategic locations like Yemen's Perim Island and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is crucial for oil exports, providing an alternative route for Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is further complicated by NATO's indication that European nations may also coordinate support for Saudi Arabia, highlighting the geopolitical tensions surrounding oil supply and regional stability