UAE bars Iranian airlines as US sanctions squeeze Iran’s aviation sector
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- The UAE has suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, citing US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
- The move follows similar restrictions by Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan.
The United Arab Emirates has suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, joining several states that have restricted Iranian aviation access amid new US sanctions targeting Tehran’s airline industry.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority announced the decision on Thursday, according to the state-run WAM news agency.
The authority said the suspension was “based on the US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines preventing them from using airports around the world.”
The UAE joins Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan in restricting or suspending access for Iranian airlines following the enforcement of the new US sanctions.
The measures have added pressure on Iran’s aviation sector as Washington seeks to limit Tehran’s international air connections and increase economic pressure on the Iranian government.
Dubai is a major destination for Iranian airlines and has historically maintained extensive air links with Iran.
The UAE’s commercial hub serves a large Iranian community and has close business and trade ties with Iran, making the suspension particularly significant for passengers and companies that rely on regular connections between the two countries.
The decision comes amid broader disruptions to regional air travel linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
