Iran threatens neighbours as US sanctions disrupt flights

Tehran — Iran has warned neighboring nations against enforcing new US aviation sanctions that have crippled international flights to and from the country. The threat emerged as Iranian airlines suspended numerous international routes following the US's announcement of secondary sanctions against airports and aviation service providers who engage in trade with Iranian carriers.

Mohammad Mokhber, a spokesperson for Iran's supreme leader, expressed on X that adhering to US sanctions will remain a source of bitterness for Iranians. He emphasized that airspace belongs either universally or not at all, and if Iran is denied access to airspace and airport services, no country in the region will have the privilege either.

This week, several countries severed ties with Iranian airlines, refusing them passage through their airspace. Despite this, only a limited number of Iranian airlines continue to operate flights from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport to locations such as Russia, China, and Turkey, with Istanbul serving as a crucial transit point for many travelers.