Archive · 25 Sep 2026
US Sanctions Push Iranian Airlines Out of Gulf Airports
The United States has placed new sanctions on many Iranian airlines.
The sanctions can also affect companies that refuel, service or allow those planes to land.
Because of this, some airports in nearby countries have stopped accepting Iranian airline flights.
The United Arab Emirates and Oman are among the countries that have taken such measures.
Regional governments are also worried because missiles and drones have made some airspace unsafe.
Iran says the restrictions are part of a wider effort to isolate it.
An Iranian official warned that airports cooperating with the measures could face retaliation.
Iranian travelers now have fewer direct international flights and may need to use other routes.
The dispute could also force airlines in the region to change schedules or avoid some airspace.
The United Arab Emirates suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines after expanded US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
The sanctions cover 27 Iranian airlines and may penalize companies that refuel, handle, ticket or serve their aircraft.
Iranian-linked flights have also been halted or disrupted in Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Regional governments cite sanctions compliance and security risks after missile and drone activity affected Gulf airspace.
Iranian passengers face fewer international connections, while Tehran has warned cooperating neighboring countries that their airports could face retaliation.
- Who
- The United States, Iranian airlines, neighboring governments and Iranian passengers are involved; Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei issued a warning.
- What
- Several countries have suspended or disrupted Iranian airline flights after expanded US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.
- When
- The latest restrictions were reported on Thursday, following expanded US sanctions earlier in the month; flight capacity had already fallen in August compared with the previous year.
- Where
- The measures affect airports and flights in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Georgia, with wider effects across Gulf airspace.
- Why
- Governments and aviation companies are responding to US sanctions concerns and regional security risks linked to missile and drone activity.
United States and regional governments
Iranian government
Reason for restricting flights
United States and regional governments
The United States says some Iranian airlines support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and move personnel and equipment. Regional governments and aviation companies are also seeking to avoid US sanctions and manage security risks.
Iranian government
Iran portrays the restrictions as part of Washington’s broader campaign to isolate Iran rather than merely as independent commercial decisions by neighboring countries.
Security concerns
United States and regional governments
Neighboring states have faced an uncertain aviation environment after missile and drone activity led several Gulf countries to restrict airspace temporarily.
Iranian government
Iran has not accepted the restrictions and has warned that countries cooperating with them could face retaliation.
Authority over airports
United States and regional governments
The United States cannot directly order sovereign countries to close their airports, but it can threaten companies serving Iranian aircraft with limits on access to the US financial system.
Iranian government
Iran cannot legally dictate whether another country accepts its aircraft, but Tehran could still choose measures to disrupt neighboring aviation if the conflict escalates.
- Sanctions scope
- The United States expanded sanctions to cover 27 Iranian airlines.
- United Arab Emirates
- The UAE suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country.
- Other affected locations
- Iranian-linked flights have been halted or disrupted in Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
- Potentially sanctioned services
- Refueling, ground handling, ticket sales and allowing aircraft to land can expose service providers to penalties.
- Passenger impact
- Iran’s international flight capacity was about 49 percent lower in August than a year earlier, according to Cirium.
- Remaining connections
- Some routes, particularly to Turkey and China, remain open, although individual flights have also been canceled.
- Iranian warning
- Mohsen Rezaei warned that airports in neighboring countries cooperating with US measures could face retaliation.