▲ An aircraft of Iran's Mahan Air
Ahead of the implementation of new U.S. sanctions against Iran, Iran's aviation routes are rapidly being cut off as flights from Iran to Baghdad, Iraq, and Muscat, Oman, have been completely canceled.
According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency on the 22nd (local time), the airports in Baghdad, Iraq, and Muscat, Oman, will suspend the acceptance of flights departing from Iran starting at midnight today.
A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) of Iran confirmed this to local media, adding, "However, other international routes, including Istanbul, Turkey, are currently operating as scheduled without any issues."
Authorities are coordinating to reroute existing flights bound for Baghdad to Najaf Airport in Iraq, which is frequently visited by religious pilgrims.
Additionally, the ISNA news agency reported that related negotiations are underway with Omani authorities.
Although the Iraqi government has not yet officially announced a ban on Iranian flights, multiple sources, including high-ranking Iraqi officials, confirmed that Iraq will also comply with U.S. sanctions.
This is the fallout from heightened warnings of high-intensity secondary boycotts by the United States targeting the global community.
Earlier this month, the United States placed Iran's aviation sector on a blacklist and warned of sanctions against any foreign entities cooperating with Iranian airlines.
In an interview with CNBC yesterday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that starting on the 23rd, Iranian airlines will face severe operational difficulties due to U.S. sanctions pressure, adding, "Globally, operations of all Iranian airlines will be suspended."
Iran's aviation industry, which has suffered from prolonged sanctions, has been hit directly.
There are 27 airlines in Iran, the majority of which operate domestic routes.
International routes have primarily been operated by state-owned Iran Air and private Mahan Air, serving neighboring countries, Russia, China, and others.
Since the announcement of U.S. sanctions, Iran's skies have been narrowing.
The previous day, Georgia completely banned Iranian aircraft from operating, and Mahan Air also announced that it had suspended operations on local routes at the request of the Turkish government.
The comprehensive aviation blockade is making international travel and returns extremely difficult for Iranians.
Iran completely closed its airspace immediately following the joint U.S. and Israel airstrikes against Iran in late February.
Although air traffic partially resumed afterward, passenger departures abroad currently take place exclusively through Iranian national carriers.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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