UAE suspends flights by Iranian airlines until further notice

The United Arab Emirates has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, effective immediately, as per the General Civil Aviation Authority's decision. This move aligns with a US ban that restricts Iranian airlines from operating at airports worldwide. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that secondary sanctions may be imposed on entities dealing with Iranian airlines, as part of the US economic pressure campaign against Tehran.

The GCAA stated that they would keep the public informed of any changes related to the suspension, depending on evolving geopolitical and regulatory situations. No specifics on when the suspension might be lifted were provided. This action comes shortly after the UAE Central Bank barred Bank Melli Iran, the nation's largest lender, from conducting any financial transactions between its UAE branches and Iran due to non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

Bank Melli Iran operates eight branches in the UAE, including a regional office. The Central Bank cited investigations that revealed the Tehran-based lender's failure to adhere to AML rules. This is also in line with the UAE's suspension of all trade, commercial exchange, and financial transactions with Iran in the previous month, following a series of attacks on UAE-owned tankers and Tehran's refusal to engage in talks with the US.