Tehran – Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of Iran’s civil aviation agency, said on Sunday that all flights to Lebanon were made in response to “security conditions” at Lebanon’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, in response to formal requests from Lebanese authorities. has been announced that it has been temporarily suspended until February 18th.
“In light of Beirut’s exceptional security situation and cancellation of all international flights, Lebanese officials have asked Iran to suspend its flights until February 18th,” said Pourfarzaneh during a press briefing. said.
He emphasized that Tehran is closely monitoring the development, adding that it “will make it clear how the situation will unfold by the specified date.”
When asked about the unverified Israeli threat to “Iran’s downward plane” heading towards Lebanon, Pourfarzaneh said he had not received written warnings from Iranian authorities on such issues.
However, he reiterated that the suspension was strictly based on Lebanon’s security assessment and reflected compliance with Tehran’s diplomatic protocols.
The halt comes amid the recent development in Lebanon that cancelled a flight on Thursday that was supposed to carry Lebanese pilgrims from Tehran to Beirut. At the funeral approaching by martialist resistance leader Syed Hassan Nasrara, many consider the move to be influenced by Israel and Washington.
Thousands of Lebanese nationals protested the halt on Thursday night by blocking the road leading to Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport. The protesters also took them to the streets on Friday and Saturday.
A Lebanese source told AFP on Saturday that Lebanon had refused twice to allow Iran to fly last week. Iranian officials reportedly urged Lebanon to prioritize national sovereignty and resist external pressure.
The situation has attracted intense criticism from both Lebanese people and political groups within the Arab world.
“We demand that the government reverse the decision to prohibit Iranian planes from landing at Beirut airport and take serious measures to prevent Israeli enemies from impose that direction,” Hezbollah said in a statement. He said.
Additionally, Pourfarzaneh confirmed that passengers stuck at Iran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport were housed in hotels at the airport, highlighting Tehran’s “duty of care” to citizens in both Iran and Lebanon. did.
He further described the Beirut airport as “unsafe” and pledged to restore normal operation after security conditions have been improved.