Iran resumes commercial flight operations for the first time since the onset of conflict

Iran on Saturday resumed commercial flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the conflict with the United States and Israel began nearly two months ago.

State television said flights operated to Istanbul, Muscat in Oman and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The resumption follows a partial reopening of Iran’s airspace earlier this month under a ceasefire with the US that brought active fighting to a halt.

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Phased restoration of air travel

The resumption of flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport follows a carefully calibrated four-stage strategy implemented by the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation. After a complete suspension of all air operations on 28 February, the authority initially cleared sovereign airspace to allow for transit flights to resume. Activity subsequently moved to eastern regional airports before expanding to the country’s two major hubs: Mehrabad Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport. This methodical rollout is expected to conclude with the reactivation of airfields across the country's western regions, effectively finalising the nationwide recovery plan.

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State media confirmed that the first wave of resumed commercial departures connected Tehran with key regional destinations, including Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina. This gradual return to regular scheduling follows a partial reopening of the nation's airspace earlier this month, which was made possible by a fragile ceasefire agreement.

Diplomatic efforts in Pakistan

The reopening of air travel coincides with a flurry of intense diplomatic activity currently centred in Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Pakistan on the evening of 24 April 2026, has been engaged in high-level consultations with the country’s senior military and political leadership.

While Washington has dispatched top-level envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to push for a sustainable end to the hostilities, Iranian officials have maintained a firm and strict policy against any form of direct engagement. Consequently, all ongoing negotiations are being conducted through intermediaries.

The Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation has emphasised that the reopening of its airports is part of a cautious, multi-layered return to civilian life. As the ceasefire holds, the resumption of these vital transit links serves as a primary indicator of the government’s efforts to stabilise the nation. While the underlying geopolitical tensions remain unresolved, the resumption of international flights is a tangible sign of progress as parallel diplomatic talks continue in the Pakistani capital.