Iran has closed its airspace: what is the reason?
15 January 06:54
The Iranian authorities have temporarily closed their airspace to civil aviation, imposing restrictions on commercial flights. Only certain international flights have been granted permission to operate, subject to special approval. This was reported by The Guardian, citing data from Flightradar, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Flight restrictions: what is known
According to official information, the aviation restrictions were initially planned to be in place for two hours, but were later extended to 7:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. Kyiv time).
Flightradar data shows that most civilian aircraft began to bypass Iranian airspace, changing their routes through neighboring regions.
Reaction of airlines
Star Alliance carriers were among the first to announce route changes. In particular, the following airlines suspended their flights through Iran and Iraq:
- Lufthansa
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Discover Airlines
- Eurowings
- Swiss
- ITA Airways.
The companies explained their decision by citing the escalating security situation in the Middle East.
Why Iran closed its airspace
According to Western media reports, European officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that a US air strike on Iran was possible in the next 24 hours. The reason given is the harsh suppression of anti-government protests and the actions of the Ayatollah regime.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump publicly tried to ease tensions by stating that the Iranian authorities had abandoned plans for mass executions of protesters.
Tensions in the Middle East
The closure of Iran’s airspace took place against the backdrop of:
- large-scale anti-government protests in the country,
- increased international pressure on Tehran,
- rumors of possible US military intervention,
- a general deterioration of the security situation in the region.
Analysts note that even temporary restrictions on air traffic may indicate serious risks of escalation and preparations for possible emergency scenarios.
