Iran reopened its airspace on Thursday after a temporary closure that restricted most flights for more than four hours amid heightened fears of possible United States military action. The airspace restrictions, issued on Wednesday, forced airlines to cancel, reroute or delay flights as carriers adjusted their routes around the country’s borders.
The temporary closure came amid US President Donald Trump’s threats of military response against Iran, following Tehran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. “If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he added.
Iranian airspace was largely closed to civilian traffic in the early hours of Thursday, allowing only flights approved in advance by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation. According to notices published by the US Federal Aviation Administration, the restrictions ran from about 1:45 am to 4:00 am, local time, and again from 4:44 am to 7:00 am, before the skies were reopened.
Current air traffic over Iran now (none) compared to the same time last week. pic.twitter.com/zsnQq3ahvQ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 15, 2026
During the period of restricted airspace, commercial traffic over Iran was significantly reduced, with many flights diverting to neighbouring air routes and some carriers issuing cancellations or delays. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 showed only three aircraft over Iran at 6:05 am local time, while dozens of other planes were rerouted around the country’s borders. Mahan Air, Yazd Airways and AVA Airlines were among the first to resume activity once the airspace reopened.
On Wednesday at the White House, while signing executive orders and legislation, Trump said the killings in Iran were coming to an end. “We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping. And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority.”
"We have been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, it has stopped."
— 𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 ✡︎ 🇮🇷 (@NiohBerg) January 14, 2026
What the fuck, Trump.
What the actual fuck.
pic.twitter.com/fDOw9JPeAp
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, nearly 3,500 people have reportedly been killed in Iran during the security forces’ crackdown on protests. In response to the heightened tensions, several countries have also issued travel advisories urging their citizens in the region to exercise caution amid fears of potential escalation.
