The 2,400km road to Tehran: Iranians 'totally isolated' by flight bans make weary journey from Turkey
On a grey main road in central Istanbul’s Fatih district, weary-looking travellers lug large suitcases from a white coach with Iranian number plates. This is not an unusual sight in Turkey , which is connected to neighbouring Iran through trade, people and practical need. But since the US announced wide-ranging sanctions against Iran’s aviation sector earlier this month, and the major Iranian…
In central Istanbul’s Fatih district, tourists arriving from Tehran on a grey coach with Iranian number plates carry large suitcases. The situation of being cut off from the world by US sanctions has left Iranian passengers weary as they travel the 2,400km from Tehran to Istanbul by road. Mahan Air, the major Iranian carrier, suspended flights to Turkey, causing more passengers to seek an alternative route.
Turkish airlines such as Pegasus and Turkish Airlines have also stopped flying to Iran. One Iranian couple, traveling to take the Ielts exam, shared their troubles with the reporter on the pavement. Their journey took three days from door to door, leaving them exhausted and economically strained. The situation highlights the isolation faced by ordinary Iranians due to the US sanctions, as they are increasingly cut off from international travel and access to essential goods and services.
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