Iranian airlines have continued operating flights to Afghanistan despite new US sanctions aimed at cutting Iranian carriers off from international aviation services, with flight tracking data showing services between Iran and Kabul after Washington’s September 23 sanctions deadline. Bloomberg reported that Iranian commercial flights were still operating to Kabul alongside destinations including China and Thailand, highlighting the limits of Washington’s attempt to isolate Iran’s aviation network.
The continued Iran Afghanistan air link comes as US sanctions threaten foreign airports and aviation companies with penalties if they provide Iranian carriers with services such as fuel, landing support and ticketing. While several regional destinations have restricted or suspended Iranian flights, Kabul has remained connected to Tehran, with current schedules showing direct services operated by Mahan Air and Iran Airtour.
The September 23 deadline marked a major escalation in Washington’s aviation pressure campaign. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were intended to prevent Iranian airlines from operating internationally by targeting the companies and airports that provide essential services to them. However, flight tracking after the restrictions took effect showed that Iranian carriers continued flying to several destinations, including Kabul.
Afghanistan’s continued connectivity with Iran has become particularly significant as other regional routes have been disrupted. Iranian authorities announced the suspension of flights to Baghdad and Muscat after those airports restricted Iranian carriers, while flights to the UAE were also subsequently halted. In contrast, direct Tehran Kabul services have remained on published schedules.
The continued flights provide Iran with an important regional aviation connection at a time when its access to international air routes is becoming increasingly restricted. Years of US sanctions had already forced Iranian airlines to rely on alternative routes, aging aircraft and limited international partnerships, while the latest measures have placed additional pressure on the country’s aviation sector.
For Afghanistan, the ongoing connection with Iran also maintains an important link with a neighboring country despite Afghanistan’s broader international isolation under Taliban rule. Current flight schedules show Mahan Air operating multiple weekly Tehran Kabul services, while Iran Airtour also has scheduled direct flights on the route.
The development demonstrates that Washington’s sanctions can restrict Iranian aviation access without immediately eliminating every international route. While several governments and aviation authorities have moved to comply with the new restrictions, Iranian carriers have continued operating on selected routes where airport and aviation authorities have not fully cut off their services.
Iranian airlines continuing to fly to Kabul therefore represents one of the remaining international air links available to Tehran as the US sanctions campaign expands. With regional airports increasingly restricting Iranian carriers, the Tehran Kabul route has emerged as a notable example of how Iran is maintaining limited international connectivity despite Washington’s efforts to isolate its aviation sector.
