Iran reopens airspace after closure to most flights amid US attack threats

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by John PowerJanuary 15, 2026 at 06:46 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

On January 15, 2026, Iran temporarily closed its airspace to most flights due to threats of a potential attack by the United States under President Donald Trump. The restrictions, impacting commercial flights without prior approval, were in effect during two periods overnight, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. Flight tracking services showed minimal air traffic over Iran during the closure. The action occurred amidst heightened tensions following Tehran's crackdown on anti-government protests and warnings from Iran regarding potential targeting of US forces in the Middle East. Several countries also issued advisories to their citizens in the region, reflecting concerns about escalation. The airspace reopened at approximately 7:00 am local time.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

UK 40% Middle East 40% Qatar 40% Al Udeid Air Base 50% Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO) ×260% US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ×270% United States ×280% Donald Trump ×690% Iran ×8100%

Keywords

airspace closure 90% iran 80% us attack threats 80% donald trump 70% flight restrictions 60% aviation authority 60% middle east 50% us faa 50% antigovernment protests 40%