Iran has cancelled all flights at all airports amid increasing military tensions with Israel.
Iranian officials cancelled flights from all of its airports from 9pm tonight to 6am on Monday morning, according to the country’s media.
This decision comes after heightened security risks in the region following the anniversary of October 7 and potential retaliatory actions by Israel in response to missile strikes by Iran.
Iran fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, in a move that it said was a response to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, which it blames on Israel.
The strike was also a retaliation for Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 28, along with Iranian commander Abbas Nilforoushan.
Israel has vowed to respond to this attack, with Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities a top target.
Officials in Tehran have stressed repeatedly that Iran is prepared for such an action and will react with a more crushing move.
Civil Aviation Organization of Iran did not provide details about the flight cancellation, saying the cancellation is due to “operational limitations”.
It called on passengers to contact airport flight information departments and their respective airlines for further questions and how to reschedule their trips.
The CAO also reassured passengers about the cost of their tickets, saying as airlines will act in accordance with the Civil Aviation Organisation’s guidelines in this regard.
In response to the escalating tensions, several international carriers have followed suit.
Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines have cancelled all flights to Iran, Iraq, and Jordan until October 9, citing security concerns due to the growing conflict between Iran and Israel. Similarly, Emirates Airlines has suspended flights to Beirut until October 15, and halted services to Basra, Baghdad, and Tehran until October 8.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country had a right to attack Iran and argued no country would tolerate missiles being fired against it.
He said on Saturday: “No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens, and Israel won’t either.
“Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks — and it will do so.”
