Tensions in Iran are nowhere close to abating, with the Islamic Republic extending an order to close its airspace to commercial aircraft early Thursday.
Iran has offered no explanation for airspace closure, with a notice to pilots saying the closure was estimated to last until 7.30 am local time. A previous order had closed the airspace for just over two hours.
Unrest in the country ran high amid escalation in protests against the regime, an ailing economy, and the government’s bloody crackdown on protesters, which now includes executions. There are over 2,000 people dead as a result of the clashes, and thousands detained.
Pertaining to the airspace closure, Air India said in a statement on Thursday that flights which would fly over Iran would now be diverted, leading to delays. “Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays,” the statement read.
The airline also said that some of its flights which could not be rerouted are being cancelled, and has advised passengers to check the status of their flights on Air India’s website.
India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is reported to have spoken with Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Aragchi, on Wednesday, to discuss the unrest as well as growing tensions in West Asia. This was preceded by the Indian ministry’s advice to its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran “until further notice”.
In the meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Tehran asked Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin to leave the country by any available means of transport, including commercial airlines, and asked their India-based family members to register them on the embassy helpline page.
Also Read: India asks its nationals to ‘leave’ Iran at once
Iran’s tensions with the United States are also at an all-time high, despite US President Donald Trump suggesting the regime had stopped its plans for executions. On Wednesday, Iranian officials had signaled that fast trials and executions lay ahead for suspects detained in the nationwide protests, while also promising retaliation if the US or Israel intervenes in the domestic unrest. This was after Trump told protesters “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” to respond to the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown.
The US then went on to advise some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar to evacuate, even while it was unclear if it would take any action against Iran.
“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping – it’s stopped – it’s stopping,” Trump said at the White House while signing executive orders and legislation. “And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions – so I’ve been told that on good authority.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi also advised the US to stick with diplomacy to find a solution. When asked by a US TV channel if he has a message for Trump, Araghchi said: “My message is: Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don’t have any positive experience from the United States. But still diplomacy is much better than war.”
The Iranian security forces’ crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,615, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported, an unprecedented number in Iran’s history of unrest and chaos.
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