The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that it has suspended all Iranian flights to and from its airports “until further notice,” following recent U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority cited the U.S. ban on Iranian airlines using airports worldwide as the reason for halting services, including the vital route to Dubai, a key regional hub for business and transportation.
This development comes amid a broader wave of disruptions to Iranian air travel. Earlier this week, flights between Iran and countries such as Oman, Azerbaijan, and Iraq’s capital Baghdad were canceled. A Varesh Airlines flight destined for Dushanbe, Tajikistan, was forced to turn back mid-air after being denied access to Turkmenistan’s airspace shortly after departure from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. According to Majid Akhavan, spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, Turkmenistan communicated the airspace denial only after the aircraft took off.
Flight tracking data showed cancellations of Tehran-Dubai flights operated by Iran Airtour and Varesh Airlines on the day of the suspension. Passengers reported abrupt cancellations, with some stranded in Dubai unable to return to Iran. Meanwhile, other Iranian carriers are adjusting routes: Mahan Air, one of Iran’s largest airlines, has halted flights to Istanbul, Ankara, and Muscat; Georgia suspended flights to Tbilisi; and Caspian, Mahan and Sephehran airlines have not operated scheduled flights to Baghdad recently, though some Sepehran flights remain planned.
The U.S. government imposed sanctions earlier this month on nearly three dozen Iranian airlines and related entities, accusing them of facilitating the transport of weapons and personnel. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that all 28 Iranian airlines would be effectively shut down worldwide as of Wednesday. These domestic Iranian airlines have become the country's primary international air links after foreign carriers largely ceased operations in February following escalating conflicts and attacks involving the U.S. and Israel.
The increasing restrictions extend beyond aviation. The U.S. has also initiated a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, intended to pressure Iran into reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping lane.
Iranian authorities have warned of potential retaliation against countries that restrict Iranian flights. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s top security official, stated that nations barring Iranian airlines from using their airspace or airports could face consequences.
The diplomatic and logistical landscape for Iranian air travel continues to shift rapidly as international sanctions and regional security concerns converge, further isolating Iran’s connectivity to the outside world.