Iran has reopened most of its airspace and airports, which were closed on June 13 due to conflict with Israel. Major airports such as Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini are operational for domestic and international flights from 5 am to 6 pm daily, while Isfahan and Tabriz will rejoin once their infrastructure is ready
Iran had entirely shut its airspace last month after Israel and the US launched a series of air strikes, prompting Iranian retaliatory missile fire.. File Pic.
Iran announced on Friday that it has reopened its airspace, which was closed on June 13 due to the conflict with Israel, according to state media.
Meanwhile, the official IRNA news agency said, "The Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, along with airports in the north, east, west, and south of the country, have been put back into operation and are ready to provide flight services."
However, domestic and international flights will operate from all airports, excluding Isfahan and Tabriz, daily from 5 am to 6 pm. Authorities further added that Isfahan and Tabriz airports will join the country's air transport network as soon as their infrastructure is prepared.
This reopening follows a turbulent period in June. Iran had entirely shut its airspace last month after Israel and the US launched a series of air strikes, prompting Iranian retaliatory missile fire.
On June 13, Israel attacked Iran, resulting in the deaths of top Iranian military and security officials in targeted strikes.
However, Iran retaliated on the same day, launching missiles and drones at sites in Israeli-occupied territories.
The conflict escalated on June 22 when the US joined the Israeli campaign, striking three Iranian nuclear facilities: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. Iran responded a day later by firing missiles at the United States' largest military base in West Asia, the headquarters of the United States Air Forces Central Command in Qatar. A ceasefire between the two countries was subsequently reached on June 24.
Meanwhile, the United States on Thursday issued a new wave of sanctions against Iranian oil exports, a move made after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect last month. Among those targeted by these sanctions are Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Said and his United Arab Emirates-based company, which the US accused of smuggling Iranian oil by blending it with Iraqi oil.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that "Treasury will continue to target Tehran's revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime's access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities," according to ANI.
Additionally regarding the Iran's nuclear capabilities, the Pentagon recently assessed that Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon following the US strike on its nuclear facilities is "closer to two years" away.
When questioned about the latest intelligence, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that the administration's stance remains unchanged, Iran's nuclear sites were "completely obliterated," reported ANI.
Moreover prior to the Israeli attacks, Iran had been already engaged in "indirect negotiations" with the United States concerning its nuclear programme and US and international sanctions on Tehran.
Foolowing the mounting tensions in the Middle East, new talks were due to commence shortly but were effectively cancelled due to the onset of the Israeli attacks.
While it is important to note that Italy and Oman had previously hosted earlier rounds of these indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Furthermore, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated last week his belief that Iran could begin enriching uranium in a matter of months. However, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that Iran has rejected the European Union's latest effort to initiate negotiations aimed at halting Iran's nuclear programme.
(With inputs from ANI)
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