Iran cancels Baghdad, Muscat flights as US aviation sanctions take effect

September 23, 2026 at 04:46 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Iran cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat starting at midnight ahead of new US aviation sanctions that took effect Wednesday. Iran's Civil Aviation Organization is negotiating to redirect Baghdad-bound flights to Najaf Airport, while talks with Oman continue. The move follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's warning that all Iranian airlines would be shut down on September 23 through secondary sanctions.

Key Facts

Flights from Iran to Baghdad and Muscat were cancelled starting at midnight ahead of new US sanctions taking effect Wednesday.
Iran's Civil Aviation Organization is negotiating to redirect Baghdad-bound flights to Najaf Airport in Iraq.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that all Iranian airlines would be shut down on September 23 through secondary sanctions on aviation service providers.
All remaining international flights, including those to Istanbul, will operate as scheduled, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.
Iran signalled on Saturday that it remains open to talks mediated by Qatar to reach a long-term resolution.

Flight Cancellations

Iran cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat starting at midnight ahead of new US aviation sanctions that took effect Wednesday, Tasnim News Agency reported. A spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said the agency is negotiating to redirect Baghdad-bound flights to Najaf Airport in Iraq. Iran's ISNA news agency reported that negotiations with Oman were ongoing, adding that all remaining international flights, including those to Istanbul, will operate as scheduled.

US Sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that all Iranian airlines would be shut down on September 23 through the threat of secondary sanctions on aviation service providers. Bessent told CNBC that when Iranian carriers land at an airport, service providers cannot provide fuel, landing services, or sell tickets without being knocked out of the dollar system. Aviation analysts told Al Jazeera that although the US lacks authority to close foreign airspace, targeting local refuelling and ground-handling providers achieves a similar outcome by cutting off essential operational support. Earlier this month, the US issued stricter measures administered by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, placing restrictions on trade, energy and financial institutions.

Iranian Response

Tehran signalled on Saturday that it remains open to talks mediated by Qatar to reach a long-term resolution, while maintaining a combative stance towards Washington. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, told Al Jazeera in an interview last week that it is in Washington's interest to accept Iran's conditions. Rezaei said Trump's threats will not achieve any results and that Iran is prepared for a decisive war.