Story perspectives

UAE suspends all Iranian airline flights after U.S. sanctions

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 6:08 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

UAE Halts Iranian Flights

UAE suspended all Iranian airline flights to and from the UAE on Thursday.
Oman, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iraq’s Baghdad and Turkmenistan also halted Iranian flights after sanctions.
U.S. Treasury sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and related firms, threatening secondary sanctions on service providers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned airports cannot give fuel, landing services or ticket sales to Iranian carriers.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaee warned compliant airports could become unusable.

Summary

Iranian Carriers Face Ban

UAE bans Iranian carriers from its airspace, costing Iran millions in overflight fees.
Thousands of passengers now fly via Doha, Istanbul or Muscat, extending travel time and cost.
Cargo shipments and remittances between Dubai and Iran are expected to fall sharply after the cutoff.
Airfare prices surged up to 100%, worsening a recent 30% drop in Iranian household incomes.

History

Historical Context

After U.S. sanctions in July 2010, the Treasury’s OFAC barred Iran Air and other carriers from EU airspace and limited refueling at Gulf airports, extending measures first imposed after the 1979 revolution. The United Arab Emirates later imposed a similar ban, forcing flights to detour via Doha, Istanbul and Muscat, raising operating costs.

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UAE Halts Iranian Flights

UAE suspended all Iranian airline flights to and from the UAE on Thursday.
Oman, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iraq’s Baghdad and Turkmenistan also halted Iranian flights after sanctions.
U.S. Treasury sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and related firms, threatening secondary sanctions on service providers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned airports cannot give fuel, landing services or ticket sales to Iranian carriers.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaee warned compliant airports could become unusable.

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