A spokesperson for the organisation had earlier said that flights from all Iran's airports would be cancelled until 6 am on Monday from 9 pm on Sunday. (Representative image)

Iran shuts, then opens flight operations even as Israeli retaliation looms large

Flight restrictions have been lifted in Iran after conditions were deemed safe, state media reported on Monday, shortening the period of flight cancellations announced earlier by the Civil Aviation Organisation.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Flight restrictions lifted earlier than previously announced
  • Civil Aviation ensured safe conditions before lifting ban
  • Flights were cancelled due to operational restrictions

Flight restrictions have been lifted in Iran after conditions were deemed safe, reported Reuters quoting state media on Monday. This shortened the period of flight cancellations announced earlier by the Civil Aviation Organisation.

A spokesperson for the organisation had earlier said that flights from all Iran's airports would be cancelled until 6 am on Monday from 9 pm on Sunday.

"After ensuring favourable and safe flight conditions by the Civil Aviation Organisation, all announced restrictions are removed and airlines are allowed to carry out flight operations," state media said six hours before the end of the initial flight cancellation deadline.

The flights were initially cancelled due to operational restrictions, state media cited the spokesperson as saying without providing further details.

Iran's precautionary move also came on the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, when Gaza-based terror group Hamas launched unprecedented armed incursions into southern Israel. Meanwhile, Israel's defence minister on Sunday declared all options were open for retaliation against arch-enemy Iran.

Notably, Iran implemented restrictions on flights on Tuesday, October 1, when it launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of commanders of its proxy groups, including former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel vowed to retaliate for the strikes, saying Iran "will pay for it".

Hezbollah was dealt a crushing blow by Israel after its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike in Beirut. Days before Nasrallah's killing, Hezbollah was subject to back-to-back sophisticated attacks by Israeli intelligence forces targeting their pagers and walkie-talkies, leading to the death of over 550 people.