International flights resume at Tehran Airport for first time as Iran-US talks near On April 25, 2026, Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the conflict with the United States and Israel began about two months ago. This marked a significant step toward normalcy following a fragile ceasefire that allowed the resumption of domestic travel on April 18, which saw six regional airports reopened, including those in Tehran, Mashhad, and Birjand. International operations officially commenced with the first flights departing for Medina, Muscat, and Istanbul, according to Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV. Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 confirmed the departure of three Istanbul-bound flights from Tehran on Saturday morning. Authorities expect flight schedules to gain momentum significantly in the near future. The resumption of international flights coincided with diplomatic efforts in Pakistan, where Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived for negotiations with U.S. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Pakistan has been mediating between the two sides in an attempt to secure a second round of ceasefire talks. Although the White House confirmed that former President Donald Trump would send Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad for renewed talks, Iran maintained its position of not engaging in direct meetings with U.S. Representatives, insisting that all communication would remain indirect through Pakistani officials. The development follows an indefinite ceasefire that has paused most fighting but left economic disruptions in place, particularly affecting global energy shipments due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials stated that the reopening of airspace reflects progress in de-escalation efforts, though the situation remains fragile and contingent on the outcome of ongoing diplomatic initiatives in Pakistan.
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