Iranian Flights Suspended Following New US Sanctions
Following new US sanctions, neighboring countries have banned flights from Iranian airlines, while missile attacks toward the Saudi Arabian border were intercepted.
Following new US sanctions targeting third-country companies doing business with Iran, surrounding nations including the UAE and Oman have suspended flights targeting Iranian airlines.
Start of Flight Bans
In response to the new US sanctions, bans on Iranian airlines were introduced in neighboring countries on Thursday.
This marks the first major impact of the US policy shift targeting companies in third countries trading with Iran.
Decisions in the Gulf and Surrounding Countries
The General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates announced that all flights belonging to Iranian airlines have been suspended until further notice.
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported to its readers that flights to Oman, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Baghdad have also been halted.
Washington's Global Sanction Plan
The Washington administration had announced that it would sanction all global companies doing business with Iranian airlines after September 23.
With this move, the aim is to ground Iran's entire civilian fleet and restrict its operations.
Airport Situation in Iran
Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport departure lists included countries such as Afghanistan, Armenia, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey.
However, it was observed that no arrival or departure flights directed toward nearby Gulf countries were on the list.
Reactions from Tehran
A senior Iranian official threatened to render airports in any regional country complying with the US ban unusable.
Tension Between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis
In a separate development, Saudi Arabian authorities announced that six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis were destroyed in mid-air.
The Houthis claimed they launched dozens of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at targets in Saudi Arabia.