Travel in and out of Iran is becoming increasingly difficult after new United States sanctions forced Iranian airlines out of much of the international aviation network, pushing thousands of passengers towards lengthy and expensive overland routes.
The US Treasury Department on September 8 sanctioned 27 airlines, targeting Iranian carriers that had not previously been covered by Washington’s restrictions. Airlines including Iran Air and Mahan Air were already under heavy US sanctions but had continued limited operations.
The latest measures have also targeted individuals and companies involved in aviation support and procurement in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, China, India, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that airports and companies providing fuel, landing services or ticket sales to Iranian-operated aircraft could face secondary sanctions that could cut them off from the US financial system.
Following the expiration of a short wind-down period on Wednesday, most Iranian flights to Türkiye, the UAE and China were cancelled. Authorities in several neighbouring countries, including Oman, Azerbaijan and Georgia, also stopped providing Iranian airlines with airspace or airport services.
Flights to Najaf in Iraq were still operating, although Baghdad Airport had been closed to Iranian carriers.
Several international airlines had already suspended services to Iran because of the war and sanctions. Turkish Airlines has suspended flights until at least March 2027, while Qatar Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa have also halted their operations.
Iranian aviation expert Mohammadreza Ebrahimpour described the latest measures as a “new level of sanctions in action”, saying they could have long-term consequences for Iran's aviation industry.
He said years of sanctions had already made it difficult for Iranian airlines to obtain aircraft spare parts, fuel and other services. He also estimated that Iran had previously earned more than $300m annually from overflight payments.
The restrictions could put tens of thousands of jobs at risk across aviation, tourism and related industries, according to Ebrahimpour.
Travellers turn to land routes
With international flights disappearing, thousands of Iranians have turned to land crossings, particularly routes through Türkiye and Armenia, where international flights remain available.
Heavy congestion has been reported at the Bazargan and Razi border crossings with Türkiye and on routes leading towards Armenia's capital, Yerevan.
Bus tickets from Iran to Türkiye have reportedly risen to around four times their normal prices on the black market because of increased demand.
Travel through Azerbaijan remains restricted, preventing Iranians from crossing the country by land to catch flights there. Border crossings with Iraq were also temporarily closed earlier in September before reopening to passengers on September 13.
The disruption has created difficulties for Iranians living abroad who want to visit relatives in the country, while students and academics face additional obstacles to international education and research opportunities.
Iranian students have also been affected because some international language examinations are not permitted inside the country under existing sanctions.
Impact on trade and healthcare
The aviation restrictions could further disrupt Iran's imports, particularly at a time when maritime trade has already been affected by the US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz and the war has disrupted road and rail transportation.
Medical supplies are among the goods imported into Iran by air, raising concerns about further pressure on the country's healthcare system.
An Iranian pharmaceutical executive recently told Al Jazeera that the cost of some imported medical supplies had increased by as much as tenfold because of sanctions, economic pressures and damage caused by the war.
The aviation analytics company Cirium reported that Iran's international flight capacity in August 2026 was 49 percent lower than in August 2025, despite a modest recovery from July.
The US government says its aviation sanctions are intended to prevent Iranian commercial aircraft from being used for weapons procurement and transportation, including activities linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
However, the restrictions have also had broad effects on ordinary civilians.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the Trump administration of “bullying” and said Iran could not be forced to surrender through war.
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