Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has made important statements regarding airspace restrictions in the Middle East. He announced that all regional airspaces have been reopened to flights, with the exception of Iran.
Due to the recent tensions between Iran and Israel, temporary airspace restrictions had been put in place. Minister Uraloğlu shared on social media that most of these restrictions have now been lifted, stating, “There are no longer any restricted areas apart from Iran.”
9 Countries Reopen Their Airspaces
As of 26 June 2025, the following countries have reopened their airspaces for flight operations:
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Iraq
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Syria
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Jordan
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Lebanon (Beirut)
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Saudi Arabia
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Qatar
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Bahrain
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Kuwait
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United Arab Emirates
Restrictions Continue in Iran, Except for Mashhad
Minister Uraloğlu stated that flight restrictions in Iranian airspace still apply outside of Mashhad, noting, “As a result, seven Turkish aircraft currently in Shiraz and Tehran have not yet been able to return to our country. Evacuation and return efforts are ongoing through diplomatic channels.”
Aircraft in Iraq Return Safely to Türkiye
Providing an update on stranded aircraft, Uraloğlu said that four Turkish aircraft in Iraq have returned safely to Türkiye. He added that efforts are ongoing to bring back the remaining planes, stating, “All flight operations in the region are being planned with the safety of passengers and crew as the top priority.”
Restrictions May Remain Until July 2
It is reported that restrictions in Iranian airspace may remain in effect until Wednesday, 2 July. However, diplomatic efforts continue to enable earlier returns.
