Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority announced the approval for the restart of international flights from Mashhad International Airport in Khorasan Razavi province starting Monday. The decision follows the reopening of eastern Iranian airspace to international flights, with some airports already resuming operations at 7 a.m. local time on Saturday. However, permission for the sale of tickets for domestic flights has not been granted yet.
The closure of Iran’s airspace, initiated after joint US and Israeli strikes on February 28, had led to the suspension of civilian aviation operations nationwide. The aviation authority stated that flight services at Iranian airports will gradually normalize once technical and operational preparations by military and civilian authorities are finalized. Meanwhile, ongoing discussions between Iran and the United States have shown progress, although a final agreement remains distant, with the current ceasefire set to end on April 22.
Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf emphasized Iran’s diplomatic efforts while maintaining readiness for potential military confrontation. Qalibaf highlighted Iran’s lack of trust in its adversaries and readiness to respond to any escalation. He criticized the United States for undermining negotiations through alleged deception, stating that Iran has achieved success both on the ground and in diplomacy. Qalibaf stressed the importance of continued negotiations alongside preparedness for any necessary action to address escalating tensions.
