A new package of tougher US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector took effect on Wednesday, after Washington pledged to halt the operations of all Iranian airlines and impose penalties on entities that continue to deal with them.
اضافة اعلان
The new sanctions, announced Monday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, build on a series of measures targeting Iran’s aviation sector as part of US efforts to increase economic pressure on the Iranian government amid the stalled military campaign.
Iranian Civil Aviation Organization officials told the Tasnim and ISNA news agencies that Baghdad and Muscat airports would no longer receive Iranian flights starting at midnight.
Tasnim reported Tuesday evening, however, that other international flights, including those bound for Istanbul, remained scheduled and were not currently facing difficulties.
A Civil Aviation Organization spokesman told the two agencies that negotiations were underway to redirect flights bound for Baghdad to Najaf International Airport.
According to ISNA, similar negotiations were also underway with Oman.
While the Iraqi government has not officially announced measures under the US sanctions, several sources, including a senior government official, told AFP that Baghdad would comply with the US restrictions.
Iraq is a key destination for Iranian airlines, which primarily transport Iranian pilgrims to Shiite holy sites in Iraq, as well as Iraqi visitors traveling in the opposite direction.
Officials at Iraqi travel agencies said they were considering organizing overland trips to compensate for the suspended flights, particularly as Iraqi airlines have not operated flights to Iran since the war in the Middle East began in late February.
Haider Al-Shammaa, from a travel agency in Najaf, said that most of the business conducted by travel and tourism agencies in the city involves booking flights for passengers traveling through Najaf Airport to various Iranian airports.
Earlier this month, the US government placed Iran’s aviation sector on its blacklist and threatened sanctions against any entity dealing with Iranian airlines.
In an interview with CNBC, Bessent said Iranian airlines would cease operations on September 23, adding that if their aircraft landed, no entity would be permitted to refuel them, provide landing services or sell tickets for their flights without risking exclusion from the US dollar financial system.
Iran’s national carrier, Iran Air, said earlier Tuesday that it had not been notified by neighboring countries of any ban on operating flights to their territories.
Iran has 27 air transport companies, most of which operate domestic flights. Iran Air and privately owned Mahan Air are the country’s leading carriers for international services, particularly to neighboring countries, as well as Russia and China.
Since Monday, Georgia has banned all Iranian flights to and from its territory, while Mahan Air announced the suspension of its flights to Turkey at Ankara’s request.
The new restrictions are expected to further limit Iranians’ ability to travel abroad or return home.
Iran fully closed its airspace shortly after the US-Israeli war against the country began in late February. As military activity declined, air traffic partially resumed, but Iranian airlines remain the only carriers operating international flights.
Source: (AFP)
