International flights have resumed from Tehran for the first time since the outbreak of war with the U.S. and Israel, as Iran gradually reopens its airspace following weeks of disruption.
Flights departed from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport to destinations including Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina on Saturday, April 25th according to state media. The resumption marks the first international connections since late February, when Iran shut its airspace after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes triggered a broader regional escalation.
The closure had significant ripple effects across the Middle East, disrupting major aviation hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi and forcing airlines to reroute or suspend flights. The reopening now signals a cautious return to normal operations, although authorities say the process will be gradual.
Iran’s airspace reopening follows a ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8th, which helped stabilise the security situation enough to allow the first international departures. Earlier, some domestic and limited international operations had already resumed at other airports, including Mashhad.
