UAE suspends Iranian airline flights amid new US sanctions

According to officials on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates has joined a growing number of nations that have imposed restrictions on Iranian carriers as a result of new US sanctions, Al Jazeera reported.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said the suspension came into effect on Sept. 24 and would last until further notice. The authority said the decision was taken after a US ban on Iranian airlines using airports in several countries.

A major regional travel link is going to be hit. Dubai is a major hub for Iranian airlines and has longstanding community and trade ties with Iran. AFP reported that on Thursday, an Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was cancelled just before takeoff.

Iranian Civil Aviation Organization spokesperson Majid Akhavan said talks were underway to restore flights. “Diplomatic and aviation talks are under way to remove the restrictions and restore flights to the UAE,” he said, according to IRNA.

Earlier this month, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines and other entities connected to Iran’s aviation industry. Washington has warned that companies providing services to Iranian carriers face sanctions and exclusion from the US financial system.