Turkish Airlines cancels Istanbul–Tehran flights amid unrest in Iran
Turkish Airlines has cancelled all five of its scheduled flights from Istanbul to Tehran on Friday, amid ongoing protests in Iran linked to rising living costs, according to information published on the Istanbul Airport mobile application.
The airport data also showed that five additional flights operated by Iranian carriers were cancelled, while several others remained on the schedule. No official statement has yet been issued by Turkish authorities regarding the situation.
Iran has been experiencing widespread demonstrations that have challenged the authorities, against a backdrop of economic hardship fueled by years of international sanctions and the aftermath of last June’s conflict with Israel.
Human rights organizations have reported a heavy security response to the protests. The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights stated that dozens of demonstrators, including minors, have been killed since the unrest began. Iranian authorities have not confirmed these figures.
According to flight tracking data, a Turkish Airlines aircraft bound for Shiraz and a Pegasus Airlines flight heading to Mashhad were forced to turn back after entering Iranian airspace late Thursday.
Turkey shares a land border of approximately 500 kilometers with Iran, with three active crossing points, making air and land connectivity between the two countries particularly significant.
