Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) on 27 September flatly denied that the country would pursue military retaliation in response to sweeping aviation restrictions imposed on Iranian carriers, according to a statement from the council's secretariat. The denial came amid a rapidly escalating standoff between Tehran and Washington over US sanctions that have effectively grounded Iranian airlines globally.

What the SNSC Said

The council issued its clarification in response to what it described as 'misleading' interpretations of recent remarks by SNSC Secretary Mohsen Rezaei on the air transport issue. The statement said the claim that Iran would resort to military retaliation was 'rejected,' adding that negotiations with relevant countries were being pursued 'seriously' to remove what Tehran characterised as 'illegal' aviation restrictions.

Notably, the SNSC did not rule out all forms of response — it underlined that 'numerous non-military ways' to retaliate existed, which could be applied to 'certain airports if necessary,' while expressing hope that the situation would not reach that point.

The US Sanctions That Triggered the Crisis

The standoff was set off earlier this week when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that 'all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world' from Wednesday, threatening secondary sanctions on any company providing aviation services to Iranian carriers. Speaking to broadcaster CNBC, Bessent warned: 'When Iranian carriers land at an airport, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system.'

Hours after the sanctions took effect, Rezaei, in an interview with state-run IRIB TV, urged countries — particularly Iran's neighbours — not to participate in what he called US 'adventurism,' predicting it 'would soon be doomed to failure.'

Trump Reportedly Rejects Ceasefire Proposal

The aviation row is unfolding against a far more volatile backdrop. US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and is considered likely to resume bombing Tehran after the US midterm elections in November, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Trump, who has repeatedly vowed that Iran will never acquire a nuclear bomb, was described as sceptical that Tehran would meet his demands and considers a renewed bombing campaign a likely outcome, the report said. He also posted an image on his Truth Social platform showing a map with the Strait of Hormuz circled and labelled 'Trump Strait' — a provocative gesture that drew immediate attention from regional observers.

What This Means for the Region

This comes amid one of the most acute periods of US-Iran tension in recent years. The aviation sanctions are not merely a travel inconvenience — they constitute a significant economic squeeze, cutting off Iranian carriers from fuel, ground services, and ticketing infrastructure at airports worldwide. The SNSC's reference to potential non-military counter-measures at 'certain airports' is widely read as a signal that Tehran could restrict transit or landing rights for carriers from countries that comply with US demands.

With Trump reportedly weighing a return to direct military action and Iran publicly seeking off-ramps through diplomacy, the next several weeks — particularly the period around the US midterm elections — will be closely watched by governments across the Middle East and beyond.