US to shut down Iranian airlines from Wednesday, Bessent says

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that all Iranian airlines will be shut down from Wednesday, escalating economic pressure as oil prices rose and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepared to address the United Nations in New York. Bessent said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that carriers would be cut off from fuel, landing services, and ticket sales abroad or face being knocked out of the dollar system. Brent crude futures gained about 1.4% near $101.70 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate advanced about 1.7% near $97.42 as investors weighed the warning against hopes of diplomacy around the U.N. General Assembly. Pezeshkian is due to present Iran’s positions on the war with the United States and Israel and hold talks on the sidelines through late September, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Markets remain sensitive to whether New York yields direct talks — which could ease supply fears — or renewed escalation that Tehran has warned would draw a significant response. Source: CNBC With Bessent’s airline cutoff set for Wednesday and Pezeshkian headed to the U.N., will New York produce a de-escalation channel — or harden the economic war? https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/oil-iran-us-bessent-un-crude.html