Iranian airlines continued operating international flights Wednesday, defying a US deadline meant to ground the Middle East nation’s fleet by imposing sanctions on companies that provide services to the carriers.
Only two civil aviation authorities in countries with air connections to Iran have officially announced a blanket ban on Iranian carriers – Georgia and Azerbaijan. Iran’s second-largest airline has been operating domestic and international routes despite American sanctions over its ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A later check showed at least seven Iranian commercial flights headed to Istanbul from Tehran, including services by state carrier Iran Air.
Mahan Air last week said it was suspending all Turkey and Oman flights indefinitely, based on directives by local authorities. That airline said Tuesday it hadn’t been informed of any flight bans. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week on CNBC that “all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world” starting Wednesday through sanctions meant to stop foreign airports from providing the carriers with refueling, ticket sales and other services. Those who ignore the penalties “will be knocked out of the dollar system,” he said.
Iranian airlines have been operating a limited network since the war started in February and no foreign carriers have resumed flying to the country since then. Earlier today, President of Airports of Thailand Pcl said they are unable to halt flights that follow international procedures.
The airport has left the door open to suspending flights if directed to do so by Thai authorities.
“We haven’t received any regulations or directions from the Thai government or the Foreign Ministry, so we can’t do anything but accept them,” Pawina Jariyathithiphong said. The deputy director-general for aviation economic development at the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, Sarun Benjanirat, said the regulator hadn’t received any instructions, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to stop the flights.
