Authorities in Iran have announced the suspension of flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat following the implementation of new US sanctions targeting Iranian airlines. According to Majid Akhavan, spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, airports in Baghdad and Muscat will cease accepting Iranian flights from midnight local time for each respective city. In response, Iran is planning to redirect flights destined for Baghdad to Najaf airport and is in ongoing negotiations with Oman to maintain scheduled international services, including routes to Istanbul.
This action coincides with the US Treasury’s move to impose secondary sanctions, effectively cutting Iranian airlines off from the global financial and operational network. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iranian carriers could be denied access to essential services such as fueling, landing rights, and ticketing if they land at foreign airports, which aims to restrict Iran's international connectivity significantly.
The Iranian authorities have expressed their willingness to negotiate, with Tehran remaining open to mediated discussions through Qatar. However, Iran’s security officials have adopted a firm stance, warning of potential conflict if US pressures escalate further. The US measures form part of a broader effort to weaken Iran’s economic and strategic position by targeting sectors like shipping, finance, and energy, with the aviation sector being a critical part of this approach. Iran’s resilience and diplomatic negotiations highlight the complex geopolitical challenges impacting Iran’s aviation operations amid ongoing tensions with the United States.
