Iran denies plans for military retaliation over aviation restrictions

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Saturday denied reports that Tehran plans to respond militarily to recent restrictions imposed on Iranian aviation, according to Press TV.

In a statement, the council rejected reports that Iran will retaliate militarily over the aviation measures, saying negotiations are underway with the countries concerned to remove some of the “unlawfully imposed” restrictions on Iranian air travel.

It said Iran has “numerous non-military options” that can be used against some airports, if necessary.

The statement came after the council’s secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, warned neighboring countries on Wednesday against cooperating with US restrictions on Iranian aviation. Speaking to Iranian state television, Rezaei said that if countries prevented Iranian aircraft from operating, their own airports would also be unable to operate flights.

On Friday, Mohammad Mokhber, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said that “either air travel in the region is available to everyone or to no one,” adding that if Iran could not fly or receive airport services, other countries in the region would not be able to do so either.

Early this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said operations of Iranian airlines worldwide will come to a halt as of Sept. 23 under new sanctions. As part of the measure, Iranian flights were barred from regional countries, including Oman, the UAE, and Iraq.

The aviation dispute has unfolded amid stalled efforts to end the US war on Iran, despite a June memorandum aimed at reaching a final agreement, with negotiations deadlocked in part over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.