Turkmenistan has denied overflight permission to an Iranian passenger flight from Tehran to Dushanbe, forcing the aircraft to return to Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization linked the disruption to Turkmenistan’s refusal to allow Iranian airlines through its airspace, leaving the eastbound service unable to continue to Tajikistan.
The incident comes amid tighter pressure on Iran’s aviation sector after new U.S. sanctions targeted airlines and related service providers. Iranian media also reported wider operational disruption, including cancellations on some services to the United Arab Emirates from midnight. The overflight denial highlights how access to neighbouring airspace can quickly affect regional route viability, particularly for Iranian carriers operating into Central Asia. No official response from Turkmenistan was identified in the available coverage.