All Iranian flights to Europe halted following EU sanctions
19 hours ago, last updated on October 16, 2024, at 10:45 AM GMT+1.
Iran Air, the sole airline in Iran providing flights to EU nations, has halted its operations to Europe following the latest sanctions introduced by the European Union, as announced by Iranian officials on Tuesday.
"Iran Air was the sole airline from our nation providing flights to Europe. With the recent sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran Air, no Iranian aircraft will be able to travel to Europe at this time," stated Maqsood Asadi Samani, the head of the Association of Iranian Airlines.
On Monday, the European Union announced new penalties aimed at Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha Airlines. These measures also affected several industrial and transportation firms, along with associated officials, business leaders, and military personnel.
The United States and its Western partners claim that Iran is utilizing its commercial airliners to transport missiles to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine, allegations that Iran rejects.
Asadi Samani mentioned that there has been a strong interest in flights from Iran to various European locations, and it seems that foreign airlines will probably satisfy this demand.
"Under these circumstances, travelers heading to Europe will likely need to take connecting flights through countries like Turkey and the UAE," he explained, noting that those flying from Iran will now depend on these routes to get to Europe.
Jafar Yazerloo, the representative of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, stated that Iran Air took the initiative to pause its flights. This decision was made to avoid the risk of being denied landing at European airports and to ensure that passengers wouldn't be left stranded, whether in Iran or abroad.
Yazerloo mentioned that there are ongoing initiatives through diplomatic means and other pertinent organizations to look for options for travelers impacted by the sanctions.
The European sanctions targeting Iran’s civil aviation sector are especially impactful. Reports indicate that Iran Air typically runs around 24 flights each week to and from at least nine European destinations, including major cities like Paris, London, Frankfurt, and Rome, based on data collected by Aviacionline from Cirium.
In the previous month, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran Air, alleging that Tehran was providing Russia with short-range ballistic missiles. The US Treasury claimed that Iran Air had been involved in transporting materials for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
Since the middle of 2022, Iran has played a major role in supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine by supplying drones, spare components, and training. Nevertheless, the delivery of missiles is seen by Western nations as a serious escalation that demands a robust reaction.
