Iran says international flights operating normally despite new US sanctions

Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said on Sunday that Iranian airlines have not cancelled their international flights and are operating according to schedule, according to Mehr News Agency. "So far, none of the international flights of Iranian airlines have been cancelled, and they are being operated according to schedule. Any change to flight schedules will be communicated to passengers in advance," said Akhavan, an official with the organization. He added that authorities are holding consultations and making arrangements to keep international services running.

Iran Air, the country's national carrier, also said it has received no official notification from aviation authorities in Turkey, Azerbaijan, or Iraq ordering it to suspend flights to Istanbul, Baku or Najaf. The airline said those routes would continue unless it received new instructions.

The assurances came as Washington prepares to intensify pressure on Iran's aviation sector. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iranian airlines would effectively be shut out of international operations from September 23, warning that foreign airports, fuel suppliers and other companies providing services to the carriers could face US secondary sanctions.

The US Treasury announced on September 8 that it had sanctioned 36 entities connected to Iran's aviation sector under what it called "Operation Economic Outcast," including all remaining Iranian commercial airlines and foreign companies accused of supporting their operations. The measures are part of a broader US campaign of sanctions and what the report described as US-Israeli aggression on Iran.

Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected the sanctions as unlawful and said they would not halt the country's civil aviation operations. The Civil Aviation Organization's statement sought to reassure passengers that travel plans remain unaffected for now, while acknowledging that any future changes would be announced in advance. Iran Air's confirmation that it has not been told to stop services to Istanbul, Baku or Najaf suggests that, at least in the immediate term, regional carriers and authorities have not moved to enforce the threatened measures.

The situation remains fluid, with the September 23 deadline approaching. According to Mehr News, Iranian authorities are continuing consultations to maintain international routes and will inform passengers of any schedule changes.