Iran Warns Neighbours Their Airports Could Halt Flights Over US Sanctions

Iran's top security official has warned neighbouring countries that their airports could be prevented from operating flights if they cooperate with the United States in enforcing restrictions on Iranian aviation.

Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, delivered the warning in an interview broadcast on Iranian state television on Wednesday.

"If a country gets involved in cooperation and adventurism with the United States, its airports may no longer be able to operate flights either," Rezaei said, urging regional states to weigh their options carefully.

He framed the choice for Iran's neighbours in stark terms: work with Washington, stand with Tehran and keep American aircraft out, or remain neutral.

Addressing those states as "friends, partners, and brothers," Rezaei said Iran would not accept any alignment with the United States. "If you choose to side with the United States, we will not allow it," he said, adding that flights in those countries would stop operating just as flights in Iran have been halted.

He called on neighbouring governments to end what he described as adventurism and to prevent any escalation or expansion of the conflict.

The remarks came as new US measures against Iran took effect on Wednesday. The steps form part of the Trump administration's Operation Economic Outcast campaign, which is aimed at cutting off what Washington describes as critical financial lifelines for the Iranian government, already subject to heavy sanctions.

The measures were first announced on September 8 and came into force on Wednesday.