Iran reopens central and western airspace for international transit flights: Report

Iran had closed its skies since June 13 after Israel launched a major bombing campaign that prompted Iran to retaliate with waves of missile strikes.

Iran has reopened its central and western airspace to international transit flights on Saturday, according to state-run Nour News. The decision comes after a period of airspace restrictions amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region due to the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. The move is likely to restore normalcy in the aviation routes, as many flights take the aviation route through Iran.

Iran had closed its skies since June 13 after Israel launched a major bombing campaign that prompted Iran to retaliate with waves of missile strikes.

Earlier, Iran reopened the airspace over the country's east, state media reported, following a ceasefire with Israel that ended 12 days of fighting. A ceasefire between the two came into effect on Tuesday.

"The airspace over the eastern half of the country has been reopened to international overflights as well as domestic and international flights solely with origin or destination in airports located in eastern Iran," transport ministry spokesman Majid Akhavan said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

He added that Mashhad airport, which Israel said it had struck during the war, was among the airports that reopened.

Other reopened airports include Chabahar, Zahedan and Jask.

Domestic and international flights in other parts of Iran, including the capital Tehran, "are not permitted until further notice", Akhavan noted.

*With Agency Inputs