Turkey's Iranian airline flights put Trump's prized F-35 deal with Ankara on a collision course

From the Newshound archive · first published 4 October 2026.

At least 83 flights operated by US-sanctioned Iranian airlines landed in Turkey in just five days after Washington's key sanctions deadline, exposing a gaping hole in Trump's pressure campaign against Tehran. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies found that while US pressure has driven Iranian carriers out of Iraq, the UAE and Oman, Turkey — a NATO ally — remains a glaring exception. Trump is simultaneously pushing an F-35 sale to Ankara, but his own State Department says President Erdoğan has not yet met the legal requirements for the deal.

Treasury designated all 27 remaining active Iranian airlines on September 8, warning foreign firms they risk punishment for continuing to service the sanctioned carriers.

Iran's main airlines were forced to cancel international flights from September 23 as neighbouring countries fell into line — making Turkey's continued access all the more conspicuous.

Portugal's prosecutors are separately probing whether US use of the Lajes air base during the Iran war is legal, adding further strain to Washington's NATO relationships.