UAE suspends Iranian airline flights from September 24

The United Arab Emirates has suspended flights operated by Iran's national carrier, Iran Air, and private airline, Mahan Air, in compliance with US sanctions stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict. All flights from Iranian airlines to the UAE ceased operations at midnight, according to ISNA news agency.

An Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was among the first to be cancelled, as tickets had already been sold when it was halted shortly before its morning departure. Dubai, a major destination for Iranian airlines, is a crucial hub with numerous daily flights originating from Iran. The airport also serves as a transit point for Iranian travelers heading to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and remains open for business trips with other countries.

Turkey, another significant travel destination for Iranians, continues to allow Iranian airlines to operate flights. However, the situation has escalated further, with Turkmenistan joining the list of nations restricting Iranian airlines. Turkmenistan refused to authorize Iranian aircraft to fly over its airspace, leading to the Tehran-Dushanbe flight being unable to land in Dushanbe and forcing it to return to Tehran.

Since Turkmenistan's decision, several other nations have implemented similar restrictions on Iranian airlines. The sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran's aviation sector in early September left aviation companies with until Wednesday to adhere to the regulations or face potential exclusion from the dollar-based financial system.

Since Wednesday, the main Iranian airlines have been forced to cancel their international flights as neighboring countries adopted restrictive measures. Turkmenistan's refusal to permit Iranian flights over its airspace resulted in the cancellation of the Tehran-Dushanbe route.