The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines as part of efforts to enforce United States aviation sanctions on Iran. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension in a statement carried by the Emirati WAM news agency on Thursday, citing the US sanctions that prevent Iranian airlines from using airports globally.
This decision aligns the UAE with other countries, including Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan, which have also restricted or suspended access for Iranian airlines amid the new US sanctions. Dubai, a major hub for Iranian carriers, has seen multiple daily flights and has a significant Iranian community with strong business ties.
On Thursday morning, an Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was canceled shortly before its scheduled departure, despite tickets having been issued, according to the AFP news agency.
In addition to the flight suspensions, the UAE suspended trade and financial exchanges with Iran last month following repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran during the US-Israel conflict. The UAE's central bank also blocked transactions involving Iran's Bank Melli, citing violations related to money laundering, terrorism, and arms proliferation.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury announced extensive sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, affecting 27 airlines and numerous supporting companies. The sanctions aim to sever Iran's air links entirely, with warnings that any airport or company servicing Iranian carriers may be excluded from the US dollar system.
Majid Akhavan, spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, stated that diplomatic and aviation discussions are ongoing to lift the restrictions and restore flights to the UAE. He noted that Turkmenistan had also turned back a flight from Tehran to Dushanbe on Thursday, as the Iranian aircraft was denied passage through Turkmenistan's airspace.
Despite these restrictions, several smaller Iranian airlines continue to operate flights to China and Armenia, which have resisted US pressure, while some routes to Turkiye remain open for certain carriers.