Iraq’s Najaf airport has announced the cancellation of Iranian flights starting Friday, the third of Mehr. A few days earlier, Baghdad airport had also announced that it was stopping Iranian flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates also confirmed on Thursday the general suspension of all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE.

In a statement, the UAE’s Civil Aviation Authority said that this suspension took effect on Thursday, the 2nd of Mehr: “This suspension has been carried out based on U.S. sanctions against Iranian airlines; sanctions that prevent these companies from using services at airports around the world.”

Iranian media had reported on Thursday that flights were suspended by the UAE.

Reuters, upon announcing the news, wrote: “Dubai, the commercial hub of the UAE, is one of the important destinations for Iranian airlines, and several flights are operated daily between Iran and Dubai.”

According to Reuters, several other countries have also suspended Iran’s flights, although flight routes to Turkey and China are still among those that have not been closed.

📷 ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images