Iran has cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat as new US aviation sanctions take effect, with the disruption pushing travellers towards expensive land routes, according to Al Jazeera reporting.
Key facts
- Iran cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat ahead of and as US aviation sanctions took effect.
- An Iranian official said Baghdad and Muscat airports would not accept Iranian flights from midnight on Wednesday.
- Iranian aviation officials have been negotiating with Oman and Iraq over the measures.
- The sanctions come seven months into the conflict, with US official Bessent targeting carriers.
- Travellers are being pushed towards costly overland routes as airlines lose airspace access.
Iran has cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat as new US aviation sanctions come into force, according to Al Jazeera. An Iranian official said the airports in the Iraqi and Omani capitals would not accept Iranian flights from midnight on Wednesday.
The move follows negotiations by Iran’s aviation officials with Oman and Iraq as Washington ramps up pressure on the country’s carriers. Al Jazeera reported that US official Bessent was targeting airlines seven months into the ongoing conflict.
As the sanctions take effect, Iranian airlines are losing access to airspace, deepening travel disruption across the region. The loss of these routes cuts off connections that many travellers rely on for regional movement.
With air links curtailed, civilians are being pushed towards land routes, which Al Jazeera described as costly alternatives. The shift places an added financial and logistical burden on those needing to travel to and from Iran.
The cancellations mark a further escalation in the impact of the sanctions regime on ordinary travellers, extending the effects of the conflict beyond the political sphere into everyday mobility. Iranian aviation authorities have continued to engage with neighbouring governments over the disruption.
Why it matters
Aviation sanctions do not only affect airlines and governments; they directly disrupt the travel plans of ordinary civilians, who now face longer and more expensive journeys. The cancellations signal a deepening of the conflict's regional impact seven months in, with knock-on effects for trade, families and cross-border movement.
Frequently asked questions
Which flights has Iran cancelled?
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat. An Iranian official said both airports would not accept Iranian flights from midnight on Wednesday.
Why are the flights being cancelled?
The cancellations come as new US aviation sanctions take effect. Al Jazeera reported that US official Bessent was targeting carriers seven months into the conflict, with Iranian airlines losing access to airspace.
How are travellers affected?
With air routes cut, Al Jazeera reported that travellers are being pushed towards costly overland land routes as Iranian airlines lose access to airspace.