US sanctions disrupt some Iranian flights while China routes continue

Iranian airlines cancelled some international flights on Wednesday after new United States sanctions targeting the country’s aviation industry came into force, according to AFP. A travel agent in Tehran said services to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan had been suspended, while routes to several other destinations remained available. Flights to China continued despite the measures.

Flight-tracking data showed a Mahan Air service from Tehran arriving in Guangzhou, while a flight to Shanghai was scheduled to depart. China has opposed the sanctions and called them illegal. Some Istanbul services also remained on the schedule, although others were cancelled.

Tehran’s international airport listed connections to Turkey and Armenia using smaller Iranian airlines, as well as services to Najaf in Iraq and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Iranian authorities were also discussing the possibility of rerouting Baghdad flights to Najaf, Iranian media reported. The disruption followed measures announced on Monday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

He said the United States intended to shut down Iranian carriers and warned countries against providing them with fuel, landing services or ticket sales, saying businesses involved would risk losing access to the dollar system. The effect of the sanctions remained uncertain, including whether other countries would enforce them. A Tehran travel agent told AFP that the situation was unstable and that tickets were no longer being sold because of fears of cancellations.

Iraqi travel agencies also reported concern, with some clients considering longer land journeys. An Iraqi government official and other sources told AFP that Baghdad would comply with the US measures.