New US sanctions shut down Iranian flights

The United States has imposed sanctions on Iranian airlines, prohibiting them from flying to and from neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iraq. Iran's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of all Iranian airlines' flights until further notice. Iran has warned that this could escalate tensions in the region.

The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the US to target companies worldwide that do business with Iran, aiming to ground Iran's entire civil fleet. The new policy, known as secondary sanctions, follows a similar strategy employed by the US against companies in third countries that trade with Iran. This move could deepen Iran's isolation and exacerbate its economic crisis, already affected by a US blockade of its ports.

The conflict has affected aviation globally, with Iran's Imama Khomeini Airport listing scheduled arrivals and departures to some countries, but not to Gulf states with which Iran has significant business ties.