Which airlines still fly to Iran

On 1 April 2026 Emirates and flydubai said Iranian nationals may not enter or transit the UAE; flydubai exempted UAE Golden Visa holders. The UAE never published a blanket ban, and Wego (updated 7 September 2026) could not verify it is still a boarding rule, while Wikipedia still lists the UAE as 'admission refused'. Avoid routings via Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi on an Iranian passport until an airline confirms.

Entry of Iranian nationals as immigrants and non-immigrants has been suspended since 9 June 2025. A December 2025 proclamation, effective 1 January 2026, keeps Iran fully suspended and narrows the exceptions: immediate-relative immigrant visas and adoption visas are no longer categorical exceptions; only lawful permanent residents, dual nationals on another passport, diplomatic visas, athletes at major events, US-government special immigrant visas and persecuted minorities remain, plus case-by-case waivers. Visas issued before 1 January 2026 are not revoked.

After the September 2026 US aviation sanctions about a fifth of Iran's international flights are suspended, and several foreign carriers stopped serving Iran. Istanbul, Yerevan, Najaf, Muscat, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou still operate and are the practical transit points. Whether foreign metasearch and booking APIs still return itineraries touching Tehran was not tested.

Turkish Airlines has no Iran flights scheduled before March 2027 and no guarantee of resumption then. Qatar Airways is suspended over airspace restrictions with a tentative resumption on 29 November 2026, subject to change. Lufthansa and Austrian are suspended with no resumption date announced. Pegasus shows Turkey–Iran itineraries from 29 November 2026 but has cancelled bookings at short notice. Mahan stopped Turkey after losing ground handling; Caspian resumed Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir on 24 October 2026, mostly as charters.

Emirates no longer serves Tehran and flydubai does not sell Iran. The UAE barred Iranian carriers, so Tehran–Dubai went from a $100–200 direct flight to $1,000 or more with connections of up to 18 hours, and on an Iranian passport the route is not usable at all while the entry and transit refusal stands.

Iran–Georgia and Iran–Azerbaijan services have been suspended since 21 September 2026. Many travellers cross overland at Nordooz into Armenia instead and fly on from Yerevan.

From 1 Mehr 1405 (23 September 2026) the CAO banned ticket sales and new commitments for MD-series aircraft that have not completed the FAA engine airworthiness directive (AD 2021-22-19). The ban covers every sales channel; affected passengers get an aircraft swap, a transfer or a full refund. It is not a blanket grounding: aircraft that complied, or whose deadline has not arrived, keep flying. Reported counts of about 40 grounded out of roughly 190 active aircraft are not supported by the primary source.

In Shahrivar 1405 the Administrative Justice Court annulled the pricing decrees of the Market Regulation HQ and the Supreme Aviation Council after the Airlines Association's complaint, while the CAO and the Roads Ministry rejected full liberalisation and opened cases against platforms selling above permitted ranges. In early Aban the Association announced a 40–45% rise and the CAO denied it on 3 Aban. Tehran–Mashhad daily averages ran about 6.7 to 7.1 million toman on 9–10 Aban 1405, with wider swings reported. Do not treat any 'approved fare' as a fact.

Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini had no flights from 05:00 Monday 15 Tir to 05:00 Tuesday 16 Tir 1405 (6–7 July 2026) for the leader's funeral; Tehran–Mashhad was prioritised afterwards. Kept as a precedent: one-off national events can halt all Tehran flights at short notice.

When the war began on 9 Esfand 1404 (about 28 February 2026) Iranian airspace closed and all domestic and international flights were cancelled; the CAO said more than 70% of cancelled ticket value had been refunded by Ordibehesht 1405, and cancelled charter tickets must be refunded in full within 2 working days. Reports that Mehrabad reopened on 2 Ordibehesht 1405 after about 50 days, and that other airports followed from 5 Ordibehesht, could not be verified; on 29 Farvardin 1405 the CAO announced only a partial reopening of eastern airspace by NOTAM. Airspace and borders may close again at short notice.

There is no direct Tehran–Istanbul or Tehran–Ankara train. The Trans-Asia Express was suspended during the pandemic and has not resumed; Seat61's Turkey page describes the onward train to Iran as 'if and when running'. Safarmarket expected direct Ankara ticket sales 'in about two months' in Dey 1404, which has not materialised. The overland alternative is the Tehran–Van train, the Lake Van ferry to Tatvan and the Vangölü Express to Ankara.

The Tehran–Van train (Sundays and Wednesdays from Tehran, 3,900,000 toman, 4-berth Sarir sleepers, about 22–23 hours, booked via Raja or 1539) was last confirmed running on 17 Ordibehesht 1405 (7 May 2026). The line was cut for about a week in April 2026 after strikes damaged two points on the Mianeh–Zanjan axis. No autumn 2026 confirmation of the service or the fare was found, and extra Friday trains were planned only until the end of Shahrivar. Passengers need a valid passport and must pay the exit fee.