Iran’s air links to parts of the region narrowed on Wednesday as US secondary sanctions on the country’s aviation sector took effect, prompting the cancellation of flights to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The measures follow a September 8 announcement by the US Treasury Department, which imposed sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines, nine individuals and companies connected with Iran’s aviation industry. The Treasury said the United States would work to halt Iranian airlines’ international operations from Wednesday.
The sanctions target businesses outside Iran that provide services to Iranian carriers, including fuel, landing support and ticket sales. Wednesday was the deadline for a short wind-down period that had allowed countries to end such services.
A travel agent in Tehran told AFP that services to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan had been suspended. The agent said: “The situation is unstable and we are no longer selling tickets for the time being for fear of cancellations”.
Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday that a civil aviation spokesman had said Baghdad and Muscat airports “will no longer accept” Iranian flights. A senior Iraqi government official told AFP that Baghdad would comply with the US measures.
Aviation authorities in Oman, Azerbaijan and Georgia would no longer provide Iranian airlines with airspace and airport services. The restrictions have left Iran’s aviation authorities seeking alternatives for some of the affected traffic.
They are in talks over directing Baghdad-bound flights to Najaf Airport, a major destination for Iranian pilgrims. Flights to Najaf Airport were still operating on Wednesday, although it remains unclear whether the airport could take all traffic previously bound for Baghdad.
Some international connections remained available. Tasnim said: “Other international flights, including Istanbul, will operate as scheduled and as usual, and at present there are no problems with these flights”. Routes to several other destinations, including China, also remained open.
FlightRadar24 tracking data showed that a Mahan Air service from Tehran landed in Guangzhou, China, on Wednesday. Iran Air and Mahan are among Iranian carriers already subject to heavy sanctions.
Even so, cancellations have reduced Iranian flights to Turkiye, the UAE and China to a handful of services. Turkish Airlines told BBC Persian on September 9 that its flight cancellations would remain in force until March 1, 2027.
Qatar Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa have also suspended operations to Iran. The restrictions have pushed thousands of travellers towards land crossings, particularly those involving Turkiye and Armenia.
The immediate effect is to concentrate Iran’s remaining international aviation network on a smaller group of destinations and routes. The longer-term outcome will depend on whether airlines and airports can sustain services without exposing providers of fuel, landing facilities and ticketing to US penalties.
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