Which countries are banning Iranian airlines to avoid US sanctions?

Several countries have begun restricting Iranian airlines from operating at their airports as sweeping new US sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector came into force on Wednesday.

The measures are beginning to disrupt international routes operated by Iranian carriers, with restrictions ranging from blanket bans to the suspension of individual airlines or destinations.

The restrictions come after the administration of US President Donald Trump placed Iran's entire aviation sector under sanctions earlier this month, threatening foreign airports and companies with penalties if they continue providing services to Iranian carriers.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned this week that Iranian airlines would struggle to operate internationally from 23 September as Washington targets foreign companies providing them with essential services.

"If they land, you can't fuel them, you can't provide landing services, you can't sell their tickets, or you're going to be kicked out of the dollar system," Bessent told CNBC.

Iran has 27 airlines, most of which operate domestic services. Flag carrier Iran Air and privately owned Mahan Air are among the country's main international operators, flying particularly to neighbouring countries as well as Russia and China.

Why are Iranian airlines being banned?

The restrictions stem from Washington's decision to target Iran's entire aviation sector.

Under the measures, foreign companies that provide services to Iranian airlines risk being hit with US secondary sanctions.

That potentially includes airports allowing Iranian aircraft to land, companies supplying them with fuel and businesses selling tickets for Iranian carriers.

The threat of losing access to the dollar-based financial system puts significant pressure on foreign airports and aviation companies to stop dealing with Iranian carriers, even where their governments have not directly banned Iranian flights.

The restrictions come as Iran's international aviation links remain severely disrupted by the US-Israel war on the country.

Iran closed its airspace entirely shortly after the war began in late February. Flights have gradually resumed as hostilities eased, but Iranian carriers remain the only airlines operating international services to and from the country.

The latest sanctions could therefore further reduce options for Iranians seeking to travel abroad or return home.

Which countries have restricted Iranian flights?

The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday suspended all flights operated by Iranian airliners, according to Iranian media.

"All flights by Iranian airlines to the United Arab Emirates have been cancelled since midnight," the ISNA news agency said Thursday.

Azerbaijan made the move earlier this week, with Azerbaijan Airlines saying flights operated by Iranian carriers had been suspended from 22 September.

"Due to the new package of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran, particularly the sanctions imposed on the aviation sector, it has been decided to suspend Iranian airline flights from 22 September 2026," the airline said, according to Russia's Sputnik news agency.

Georgia also banned Iranian carriers on Monday.

Mahan Air halts flights to Turkey

Turkey has also been affected, although the measure reported so far is narrower. Iranian carrier Mahan Air said it had suspended its flights to Turkey at Ankara's request.

Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said on Wednesday that other international services, including flights to Istanbul, were continuing according to schedule, suggesting the Turkish restrictions do not currently amount to a blanket ban on all Iranian carriers.

Iraq halts Iranian flights - then says some will resume

All four Iraqi airports that had been operating flights to and from Iran suspended them earlier this week, significantly expanding restrictions first imposed in Baghdad.

Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports suspended Iranian flights from Friday, two sources told Reuters, while Iraq's state news agency separately reported that Najaf International Airport had also halted services.

Najaf airport said all flights arriving from and departing for Iran would be suspended from 2am on Friday until further notice.

The moves follow Iraq's decision to halt Iranian flights at Baghdad International Airport from Wednesday.

However on Monday 28 September Iraq's ambassador to Iran, Yasser al-Hajaj announced that flights from Iran to Najaf would resume. He said that Iraq had not initially banned flights, but foreign ground companies were refusing to provide services to Iranian flights for fear of US sanctions.

He reportedly also said that only Iraqi Airways flights would be resuming from Iranian airports.

Iraqi authorities initially discussed diverting Iranian flights from Baghdad to Najaf, but Friday's suspension meant flights to and from Iran were halted at Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniya, the four Iraqi airports where they had been operating.

Iraq is an important market for Iranian airlines, which carry Iranian pilgrims to Shia religious sites in the country and Iraqi travellers in the opposite direction.

Travel agencies have been considering expanding overland transport between the two countries to compensate for the lost flights.

Tehran-Muscat flights cancelled

Flights between Tehran and Oman have also been cancelled from Wednesday, according to Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation.

An Iranian aviation spokesman said Iranian passengers were "currently not permitted to enter at the airport in Oman", adding that consultations were under way.

Oman's restrictions do not appear to amount to a blanket ban on all Iranian airlines, distinguishing the measures from the broader bans imposed by Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the latest developments and additional restrictions on Iranian flights.