Dubai and Turkey Suspend Flights to Iran Amid Continued Protests

Dubai: On Friday, at least six flights between Dubai and various Iranian cities were cancelled, as indicated on the Dubai Airports website. These cancellations have intensified the disruptions in regional air travel linked to the persistent unrest within Iran.

According to Al Khaleej newspaper, the flights affected included direct routes from Dubai to Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad — key Iranian aviation centers. No official explanation has been provided for the cancellations, nor was there information about alternative travel options for the impacted passengers.

The travel disruptions extend beyond the UAE. In Turkey, Turkish Airlines has cancelled all five flights scheduled for Friday to Tehran, as reported by the Istanbul Airport mobile application. Additionally, five flights from Iranian carriers were also cancelled, though seven other flights to Tehran remained operational.

So far, Turkish authorities have refrained from making any public statements regarding the flight cancellations or the situation in Iran. These flight disruptions coincide with widespread protests in Iran concerning escalating living costs, presenting significant challenges to the administration of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Currently, Iran is grappling with a severe economic crisis, a situation exacerbated by years of international sanctions and further strained by recent conflicts with Israel in June.