Iran unexpectedly closed its airspace for several hours, disrupting international flights, amidst heightened tensions with the United States over its brutal crackdown on nationwide protests and concerns about potential military escalation.
Iran unexpectedly closed its airspace for over four hours early Thursday, without offering an explanation, as tensions with the United States remained elevated due to Tehran's deadly crackdown on widespread protests. This closure, impacting a vital East-West flight corridor, forced international carriers to reroute, raising alarms within global aviation. Experts expressed concern over potential security or military activities, including missile launches, and the risk of misidentifying civilian aircraft, recalling the 2020 incident where Iran shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752. The airspace shutdown coincided with U.S. advisories for personnel to evacuate or temporarily halt access to military bases in Qatar and Kuwait. U.S. President Donald Trump, after initially making vague threats, later stated Iran had stopped executions and, alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, advocated for a diplomatic resolution. This shift in tone occurred just hours after Iran's judiciary chief called for swift punishment of thousands of detained protesters. Activists warn of imminent executions, with the crackdown already claiming at least 2,615 lives, making it the deadliest period of unrest in Iran in decades, echoing the chaos of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
