US Removes Sanctions on Iranian-Linked Airlines Amid Tensions, Denies Concessions

On Wednesday, the United States Treasury Department lifted counterterrorism sanctions on two Boeing aircraft and three airlines connected to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad. These sanctions had been imposed due to the companies' ties to the IRGC's Quds Force. However, sanctions against a senior company official remain in place. US officials emphasized that this removal does not signal any concessions toward Iran or relate to negotiation efforts, describing it as part of a routine review process.

Earlier the same day, President Donald Trump spoke in a Fox News interview about Iran, asserting that Iran will never obtain nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz would soon reopen. He warned that if it does not, the US would strike hard. Trump recounted that the US was prepared to launch a massive attack, the largest since World War II, but Iran requested talks instead, which he accepted to resolve the issue.

Additionally, Reuters reported that the US military has used nearly all of its long-range precision missiles during five months of conflict with Iran, raising concerns about military readiness for future engagements. CNN further noted Pentagon warnings that ammunition stockpiles are at dangerously low levels, highlighting ongoing tensions and military strain related to Iran.

This development occurs amid heightened US-Iran tensions, with the US signaling both military preparedness and a willingness to engage diplomatically, while maintaining pressure through sanctions and military capabilities.