Iran airlines cancel flights as US sanctions bite

Iranian airlines were compelled to cancel certain international flights on Wednesday, following the United States' imposition of tighter sanctions on Iran's aviation industry. Georgia and Azerbaijan officially confirmed the suspension of their flights, while Tehran-based travel agents reported the halting of services to Baghdad, Muscat, and Qatar.

However, some routes to destinations such as China and Istanbul remained operational. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the new measures, stating that "probably more than 80 or 90 percent" of external flights from Iran had been grounded. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, speaking from New York, vowed that the Iranian people's resistance would only grow stronger in the face of US sanctions and pressure.

Despite the recent sanctions, Iran's aviation sector has been under targeted measures for years, and the impact of the latest restrictions remains uncertain. Iran's top national security body threatened retaliatory actions against those complying with the US sanctions. China and Turkey have expressed opposition to the US sanctions, with China describing them as illegal.

Iranian authorities are exploring alternative routes to bypass the affected countries, such as rerouting flights from Baghdad to Najaf, a significant destination for Iranian religious pilgrims.