“Air routes in the eastern section of the country’s airspace are open for international flights transiting through Iran,” it said, adding that some airports reopened at 03:30 GMT (9 am).
More than three hours later, however, flight tracker websites still showed no international flights crossing Iran, and several avoiding its airspace by making long detours.
The development came even as tensions between Iran and the US flared up over the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying on Saturday that it was reimposing strict military controls on the vital route, which is responsible for a fifth of global oil trade.
Iran’s shifting stance on the waterway has deepened uncertainty over whether traffic will be allowed to continue through it.
Iran on Friday announced a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. However, it changed its stance a day later, blaming the US for violating the ceasefire under the guise of a blockade.
Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that control of the Strait of Hormuz has reverted to its previous status, with the waterway now under strict supervision of the armed forces. It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned that the ceasefire with Iran could be terminated if a broader agreement to end hostilities is not reached by Wednesday, signalling a possible return to military escalation amid continuing tensions in the Gulf.
(With inputs from AFP)
– Ends
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