1 hr ago
Iranian Flights Cancelled as US Sanctions Take Effect
The United States has imposed new financial rules on companies that work with Iranian airlines.
The rules are meant to make it difficult for Iran’s civilian planes to operate around the world.
Flights between Iran and Gulf destinations, including the United Arab Emirates, appeared to be cancelled.
Iran warned nearby countries not to follow the US rules.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia said it stopped six missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The Houthis and Saudi-backed forces are fighting in Yemen.
The fighting has caused many deaths and forced many people to leave their homes.
The two developments are part of a wider conflict involving Iran and its regional allies.
The fighting has also affected energy supplies and oil prices.
Iranian flights to Gulf destinations, including the United Arab Emirates, appeared cancelled after a US deadline targeting Iranian airlines passed.
The US Treasury ordered global companies to stop doing business with Iranian airlines by September 23, aiming to ground Iran’s civilian fleet.
Iran warned neighbouring countries that complying with the ban could make their airports “unusable.”
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi movement after alerts were issued for Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu.
The latest fighting in Yemen has killed more than 700 people, displaced nearly 130,000 inside the country and pushed more than 3,000 to flee by boat.
- Who
- The United States, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s Houthi movement, and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are involved in the reported developments.
- What
- US secondary sanctions targeting companies that do business with Iranian airlines took effect, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting six Houthi ballistic missiles.
- Where
- The flight disruptions involved Iran and Gulf destinations, especially the United Arab Emirates; the missile interceptions occurred over or near Saudi Arabia, including areas around Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu.
- When
- The flight-sanctions compliance deadline was September 23; the cancellations and missile interceptions were reported on Thursday, September 24.
- Why
- The United States said the sanctions aim to ground Iran’s global civilian fleet, while the missile attacks occurred amid escalating fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
US and Saudi positions
Iranian and Houthi positions
Airline sanctions
US and Saudi positions
The United States says secondary sanctions should pressure companies worldwide to stop working with Iranian airlines and ground Iran’s civilian fleet.
Iranian and Houthi positions
Iran opposes the ban and warned that neighbouring countries enforcing it could face retaliation and have their airports made unusable.
Missile attacks and retaliation
US and Saudi positions
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles and that violations by the Houthi movement will be dealt with firmly.
Iranian and Houthi positions
The Houthis have continued firing into Saudi Arabia and say the Saudi air force has carried out hundreds of strikes in Yemen.
Yemen’s battlefield
US and Saudi positions
Saudi-backed Yemeni government sources say their forces repelled Houthi attacks on a key supply route to Aden.
Iranian and Houthi positions
The Houthis say their campaign has expanded their control, and their advances have placed pressure on government-held routes near Taiz and Aden.
Key facts
- US sanctions deadline
- September 23 was the deadline for global companies to stop doing business with Iranian airlines.
- Reported flight disruptions
- Flights to the United Arab Emirates appeared to be cancelled, while some flights to other countries remained scheduled.
- Iranian warning
- Iran threatened retaliation against neighbouring countries complying with the flight ban.
- Missiles intercepted
- Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday.
- Yemen deaths
- More than 700 people have reportedly been killed in the latest fighting, according to the United Nations.
- Displacement
- Nearly 130,000 Yemenis were displaced inside the country, while more than 3,000 fled by boat to Africa.
Quotes
A retired teacher in Tehran
A retired teacher in Tehran who spoke to Reuters by text message anonymously
“We are living in an open-air prison”
theprint.in
Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen
The coalition conducting military operations against Houthi forces in Yemen
“Any escalation and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly”
theprint.in
Sources
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