Iran threatened airports in neighboring countries if they block Iranian flights under US pressure, as tighter sanctions forced cancellations but failed to halt all of the country’s international airline operations.
Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning on state television on September 23, 2026. According to Reuters, he said Iran would prevent neighboring airports from functioning if their governments cooperated with Washington’s efforts to stop Iranian flights.
The threat came as Iranian carriers lost access to some destinations while continuing to serve others, including China and Russia.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said Baghdad and Muscat airports in Iraq would stop accepting Iranian flights beginning at midnight on September 23. Spokesman Majid Akhavan said officials were working to redirect Baghdad-bound services to Najaf International Airport in Iraq.
Georgia and Azerbaijan also confirmed suspending Iranian flights. A Tehran travel agent told AFP that services to Qatar had been suspended as well.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said on September 21 that the threat of sanctions against aviation service providers would force Iranian airlines to stop operating beginning on September 23.
But a Mahan Air flight from Tehran landed in Guangzhou, China, after the deadline, according to Flightradar24 data. Another flight to Shanghai remained scheduled, as did some services to Istanbul, although other Turkish flights had been canceled. China has opposed the US measures against Iran.
Washington is trying to ground Iranian airlines by pressuring the foreign companies they need to operate abroad. The US Treasury Department has warned that businesses supporting sanctioned carriers, including cargo handlers and sales agents, risk sanctions themselves.
On September 8, the department imposed sanctions on 36 targets, including 27 Iranian airlines. It accused Iran of using its aviation industry to transport weapons and personnel and obtain aircraft and equipment through overseas intermediaries.
The US also withdrew several aviation-related authorizations. A temporary license allowing certain previously permitted transactions to be wound down expired at 00:01 Eastern Daylight Time on September 23.
It was unclear how Iran intended to carry out its threat against airports that refused Iranian flights.