Iran has suspended all flights to Lebanon until February 18, responding to a request from Lebanese officials amid security concerns in Beirut. Protests have erupted over the refusal of an Iranian aircraft to land in Beirut, leading to tensions and military intervention. Iran has rejected Lebanon’s request for planes to evacuate stranded citizens in Tehran, emphasizing its continued support for flight operations without compromising Iranian interests.
On Sunday, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, Mr. Hossein Pour Farzaneh, announced the suspension of all flights from Iran to Lebanon until February 18 at the request of Lebanese authorities. He clarified that this action is necessary due to the current security conditions in Beirut and the halt of all international flights. Consequently, Iranian passenger transport will cease during this period.
Mr. Pour Farzaneh addressed rumors regarding Israeli threats to Iranian flights, asserting that he had no knowledge of any such threats. Nevertheless, as a precaution, written communications requested the suspension of flights. He assured that the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization would monitor the situation closely and pledged that, “We will definitely resolve this issue.”
Protests erupted last Thursday as demonstrators blocked access to Beirut Airport, protesting against the Lebanese authorities’ refusal to allow an Iranian flight carrying passengers to land. Escalating protests led to road closures in various key locations in Beirut over the weekend, with Hezbollah organizing a demonstration near the airport, which escalated to clashes involving tear gas fired by the Lebanese army.
In addition, Iran declined Lebanon’s request for two Middle East Airlines planes to evacuate Lebanese citizens stranded in Tehran, due to Lebanon’s refusal to permit an Iranian aircraft to land in Beirut. Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, expressed that Tehran is open to flights from Lebanese airlines but stressed this must not come at the expense of halting Iranian flights to Lebanon.
In summary, the Iranian flights to Lebanon are suspended until February 18 due to security concerns raised by Lebanese authorities. This decision comes amidst rising tensions and protests over the inability of an Iranian flight to land in Beirut. The situation remains complex, with ongoing discussions about future flights and bilateral relations.
Original Source: shafaq.com
