Commercial flight operations resumed Saturday at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the onset of heightened tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel roughly two months ago. State media reported that flights departed for Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina, marking a partial reopening of the airport following a ceasefire that temporarily halted hostilities.

Earlier this month, Iran had partly reopened its airspace amid the ceasefire, which followed a series of escalations that began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets on February 28. Since then, diplomatic efforts have been underway to de-escalate the conflict, though significant obstacles remain. A source from the Iranian diplomatic mission in Islamabad indicated Tehran’s unwillingness to accept what it described as “maximalist demands” from the other side.

The dispute centers in part on Iran’s restrictions on access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passageway responsible for transporting approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Iran has largely shut down the strait in recent weeks, exacerbating global energy concerns, while the United States continues to block Iranian oil exports.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged some progress in recent days from Iran’s side and expressed hope for further developments over the weekend. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, who led earlier diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad that yielded limited results, is preparing to travel to Pakistan again to continue talks with Iranian representatives.

The ongoing diplomatic engagement reflects cautious optimism amid a still-fragile ceasefire as both parties seek to navigate complex political and security challenges in the region.