Iran extends ban on international, domestic flights

Iran has extended its ban on all domestic and international flights until 14:00 local time (10:30 UTC) on June 19, 2025, Majid Ahavan, a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, has said.

The initial restriction, which prohibited flights within and beyond Iran’s borders, was in place until 02:00 UTC on the same day, Caliber.Az reports, citing NourNews.

This extension follows a series of military escalations beginning early on June 13, when Israel launched air strikes inside Iran. The strikes reportedly resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of several high-ranking military figures: Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces; Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Gholamali Rashid and Ali Shadmani, commanders of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters; IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh; Ali Shadmani, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who succeeded Gholam Rashid; as well as nine nuclear scientists and other senior officials.

In retaliation, Iran launched a massive missile and drone attack on Israel on the same day, firing over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones targeting Tel Aviv and other regions. These attacks caused civilian casualties and widespread damage.

By Khagan Isayev