Khamenei Adviser Issues Ultimatum: If Iran Cannot Have Flights, No One In The Region Can

Live updates

1. 54m ago

   Iran Threatens Regional Flights Amid US Sanctions

   A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader issued an ultimatum stating that regional air travel will face disruption if Iranian carriers lose access to flights and airport services. The warning follows mounting pressure from a United States sanctions and arm-twisting campaign that has restricted Iranian aviation connections. Airports in Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaimaniya joined other destinations in cutting off Iranian routes. Mohammad Mokhber declared on social media that regional flights must remain open for everyone or no one, while criticizing nations cooperating with Washington policies. Officials did not specify how Tehran plans to enforce the threat against neighboring aviation networks.

   Why it matters

   Mounting United States sanctions have increasingly isolated Iran's aviation sector by cutting off its flight links and necessary airport services across the region. Neighboring countries and transit hubs are adjusting their operations to comply with American restrictions, prompting severe friction with Tehran. Iraq and other regional actors are caught between compliance with Washington and potential retaliation from Iranian authorities.

   What is confirmed

   • Iran threatened to disrupt regional air travel if its airlines lose access to flights and airport services.
   • Three Iraqi airports are suspending Iranian flights starting Friday.
   • Mohammad Mokhber stated that if Iran cannot fly and receive airport services, no country in the region will have that possibility either.
   • The United Arab Emirates is suspending all flights operated by Iranian airlines to comply with United States sanctions.

   What to watch next

   • Concrete enforcement actions taken by Tehran to disrupt regional air travel
   • Official responses from regional governments regarding security at transit hubs
   • Potential US exemptions granted to regional nations regarding Iranian flight bans
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. Reuters — Three Iraqi airports suspend Iranian flights starting Friday, sources and state media say
   2. www.iranintl.com — Iran threatens regional air travel as US sanctions cut its flight links
   3. www.iranintl.com — Khamenei adviser threatens regional flights over restrictions on Iran
   4. Iran International — Iran threatens regional air travel as US sanctions cut its flight links
   5. NDTV Profit — Khamenei Adviser Issues Ultimatum: If Iran Cannot Have Flights, No One In The Region Can
   6. WSJ — Exclusive | A U.S. Arm-Twisting Campaign Is Cutting Iran Off From the Rest of the World
   7. Al Jazeera — Iraq seeks US exemption from ban on Iranian flights
   8. The Times of Israel — UAE says suspending all flights operated by Iranian airlines to comply with US sanctions
   9. en.royanews.tv — Roya News | Khamenei’s advisor warns: “Flights free for all ...
   10. newscord.org — Mojtaba Khamenei Warns Iraq: If Iran Cannot Operate Flights ...
   confidence 95%