Iran has threatened to make airports in neighbouring states unusable if those countries cooperate with Washington’s push to stop Iranian flights. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning on state television as US sanctions tightened pressure on the country’s aviation sector and forced cancellations on routes to Gulf destinations.
The warning came as regional airlines and airport operators faced widening disruption from the sanctions campaign. Reuters reported that the US move was aimed at pushing Iranian carriers to halt operations, while Iranian aviation services to destinations including Baghdad and Muscat were already being curtailed. Follow-up coverage pointed to further suspensions affecting routes in Iraq and Oman, underscoring the risk of spillover into wider Gulf air traffic.
Rezaei did not specify how Tehran could interfere with foreign airport operations, but the language sharpened an already tense aviation standoff. The threat adds to uncertainty for airlines, airports and service providers in the region as they weigh compliance with US measures against the risk of retaliation from Iran.