Last update: February 10, 2025 13:49

Newsroom logo

Iran Air Flights to Europe Halted Amid New EU Sanctions

By Nigar Bayramli October 17, 2024

None

Iran Air is the flag carrier of Iran headquartered at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. As of 2018, it operated scheduled services to 71 destinations in Asia and Europe. / X-Plane

The Iran Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has confirmed that all Iran Air flights to Europe have been canceled due to EU sanctions.

“In compliance with the sanctions imposed by the EU on October 14 against Mahan, Saha, and Iran Air, which violate the Islamic Republic’s international aviation regulations, Iran Air has halted all its flights to Europe,” ICAO spokesman Jafar Yazerlou stated on October 15, according to the ILNA news agency.

He explained that the cancellations aim to “avoid the consequences of being denied [EU] visas, which could prevent Iran Air from obtaining permission to land on European soil.”

Yazerlou further emphasized that the measure is intended to prevent passengers from being stranded in either Iran or Europe. He added that Iranian diplomats, ICAO officials, and the airlines are exploring ways to ensure that Iranian citizens can continue traveling to Europe.

On October 14, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on seven individuals and seven organizations for their alleged involvement in the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. The sanctions included three Iranian airlines – Saha Airlines, Mahan Air, and Iran Air – and two procurement firms accused of facilitating the transfer of Iran-made UAVs, components, and technologies to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. Two companies involved in producing rocket and missile propellants were also targeted.

In addition, the EU imposed restrictive measures on several prominent figures, including Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF), IRGC Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and IRGC Aerospace Force Space Division. The managing directors of EU-listed companies Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) and Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) were also sanctioned.

On the same day, the UK introduced a new round of sanctions targeting senior figures in the Iranian military, including the Army, Air Force, and IRGC Intelligence Organisation, in response to Iran’s attack on Israel on October 1. These sanctions also designated the Farzanegan Propulsion Systems Design Bureau (FPSDB), which designs and manufactures parts for cruise missiles, and the Iranian Space Agency, which develops technologies applicable to ballistic missile development.

The UK had already imposed over 400 sanctions on Iran, including designations against the IRGC as a whole and many of those responsible for the recent attack on Israel.

In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baqai condemned the sanctions imposed by the UK and EU, calling them “based on false and baseless pretexts.” He denied allegations of Iranian ballistic missile sales to Russia and reiterated that Iran’s position on the conflict in Ukraine remains clear, advocating for a diplomatic solution to resolve the dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

Baqai also accused Western powers of attempting to shift attention away from “the most important issue of the day,” which he described as the “genocide of the Palestinian people and the war-mongering of the Zionist regime” in the Middle East.

In September, the EU strongly condemned Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, viewing it as a direct threat to European security and a significant escalation from previous provisions of Iranian UAVs and ammunition used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

In mid-May, the EU expanded the scope of its restrictive measures framework, citing Iran’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. This framework now covers not only drones but also missiles, as well as the Iranian drone and missile programs’ support for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. The framework was extended until July 27, 2025, and will be reviewed annually.