Iranian airlines cancel some international flights due to US sanctions — Asharq Al-Awsat
In Iran, airlines on September 23 canceled some international flights after new US sanctions against the country’s aviation sector took effect. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, a travel agent in Tehran told AFP that flights to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan had been suspended.
Some routes remained available
At the same time, some international destinations remained available. In particular, the FlightRadar24 service recorded the arrival of a Mahan Air plane from Tehran in Guangzhou, China, after the restrictions were imposed. According to Tehran’s international airport, a flight to Shanghai was also scheduled to depart on September 23.
The travel agent noted that some flights to Istanbul were operating, although others had been canceled. According to him, ticket sales were temporarily suspended due to the unstable situation, amid fears of further cancellations. Tehran airport’s website also indicated the possibility of connections with Turkey and Armenia on flights operated by smaller Iranian carriers, including Varesh. The schedule included flights to Najaf in Iraq and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
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Washington’s warning
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on September 21 that Washington sought to stop the operations of Iranian carriers and punish those who do business with them. He warned other countries that Iranian airlines would not be allowed to receive fuel, airport services or sell tickets; otherwise, such entities could lose access to the dollar system.
On September 22, Iran’s Tasnim agency, citing a civil aviation representative, reported that Baghdad and Muscat airports would no longer accept Iranian flights. At the same time, the agency claimed that other international routes, including those to Istanbul, were to operate as usual. Iranian aviation authorities are negotiating to reroute flights to Baghdad via Najaf.
China on September 22 spoke out against the US sanctions, calling them illegal. Several sources, including a senior Iraqi government official, told AFP that Baghdad would comply with the US restrictions, although Iraqi authorities had not publicly announced this.
