After US sanctions, Turkish airlines suspend flights to and from Iran

Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus have suspended flights to and from Iran since Monday, following the implementation of new US sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry.

The official platforms of Turkish Airlines and AJet show no flights to Iran through March 2027. Meanwhile, Pegasus has removed these routes from its booking system without specifying a date for their resumption.

A Turkish Airlines representative clarified that the company cannot guarantee the resumption of flights after March 2027.

The US measures are not limited to aircraft manufactured in the United States, such as Boeing aircraft, but also affect Airbus planes. The use of Airbus aircraft on routes to Iran could be affected because they contain parts manufactured in the United States.

Because of the risks associated with US sanctions, Mahan Air has been the only Iranian airline barred from operating flights to Turkey since Monday. For now, other Iranian airlines can continue operating routes between the two countries.

The decision was made at a time when Ankara and Tehran have maintained stable economic, trade and energy ties. However, Turkey appears to be adjusting its actions in response to increasing US economic pressure on Iran.

Last weekend, Turkish authorities revoked the banking licence of Iran’s Bank Mellat, which had operated in Turkey for decades.

Last week, Turkey’s banking regulator also took control of Golden Global Investment Bank after the US imposed sanctions on it, accusing the bank of channeling funds to the Iranian government.