Iran reopens central and western airspace to international transit flights after Israel ceasefire

Dubai: Iran has reopened its central and western airspace to international transit flights, state-run Nour News reported on Saturday.

The move comes days after a ceasefire was reached in the conflict between Iran and Israel, which had severely disrupted regional air traffic and prompted many international airlines to avoid Iranian airspace.

Tehran had shut its skies on June 13, following a large-scale bombing campaign by Israel. The closure caused widespread flight diversions across the Middle East.

Despite Iran’s decision to reopen its airspace, Dubai-based Emirates airline announced on Saturday that it would extend the suspension of its flights to and from Tehran until July 5, citing continued uncertainty in the region.

The airline had already faced disruptions earlier in the week, rerouting some flights on June 23 as a precaution. However, Emirates confirmed that its services to Baghdad and Basra in Iraq will resume as scheduled on July 1 and 2, respectively.

The recent escalation between Iran and Israel in mid-June led to heightened tensions and intermittent air travel disruptions across the Middle East. While the ceasefire has eased some restrictions, airlines continue to operate with caution in the region.