Iran keeps China, Turkey, Iraq routes open as four others canceled under US sanctions
Flights between Iran and China, Turkey and Iraq's Najaf continued Wednesday as new US sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector took effect, while flights to Baghdad, Oman, Azerbaijan and Tbilisi were canceled, the head of Imam Khomeini International Airport City said.
Ramin Kashef-Azar, speaking to IRNA, said Iranian airlines were continuing to operate international flights despite the latest US pressure on the country's aviation sector.
"Flights to Iraq through Najaf airport are continuing without interruption, but Baghdad airport is currently not providing services to Iranian flights," he said.
The developments followed an Iraqi decision to suspend Iranian flights to Baghdad from Wednesday after the US threatened sanctions against airports servicing Iranian carriers, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Kashef-Azar also said flights to China were operating normally according to schedule.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that a Mahan Air aircraft that departed Tehran landed in southern China on Wednesday. Mahan Air flight 093 landed in Guangzhou at 4:39 p.m. local time (0839 GMT), according to the website.
Yerevan flights continue,
two canceled
Flight schedules also showed that several Iranian airlines continued to operate on the Yerevan-Tehran route.
At Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport, aircraft operated by Iranian airlines Caspian Airlines and Fly Kish departed for Tehran on Wednesday. Two of the six scheduled flights from Yerevan to Tehran were canceled, according to the airport's flight information.
Flight schedules at Imam Khomeini International Airport also showed several Iranian airlines operating flights to and from Turkey.
Kashef-Azar said that, apart from Mahan Air, which faces restrictions on flights to Turkey, other Iranian airlines were continuing to operate flights to several Turkish destinations, including Istanbul, Ankara, Gazipasa and Izmir.
"At present, with the exception of Mahan Air, which is facing restrictions on flights to Turkey, other Iranian airlines are operating flights to various destinations in the country without any problems," he said.
He added that because foreign airlines had not returned to Iran since the start of the US-Israeli war at the end of February, Iranian carriers including Qeshm Air, Taban Airlines, Sepehran Airlines and Varesh Airlines were handling passenger traffic from neighboring countries and other destinations.
"Flights to the country of China are also operating without any problems, and flight schedules to this country are being carried out according to the timetable," Kashef-Azar said.
"The Civil Aviation Organization is continuously negotiating with aviation authorities in other countries to ensure that Iranian airlines can operate international flights with the fewest possible restrictions," he added.
The flights came as Washington moved to tighten pressure on Iran's aviation sector. On Sept. 8, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines as part of a broader campaign announced on Aug. 24, warning that foreign companies supporting Iran's aviation industry could face sanctions and restrictions on access to the US financial system.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that Washington would seek to shut down Iranian airlines worldwide from Sept. 23 by threatening secondary sanctions against foreign aviation service providers that continue working with them. He said companies could risk access to the US dollar system if they fuel Iranian aircraft, provide landing services or sell tickets for Iranian carriers.