Tehran airport reopens for commercial flights after two months of war disruption

Iran has restarted commercial flight operations from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran for the first time since the conflict involving the United States and Israel began around two months ago.

According to state-run television, flights departed on Saturday to Istanbul, Muscat in Oman, and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The resumption follows a partial reopening of Iranian airspace earlier this month after a ceasefire with the US brought active fighting to a halt.

Diplomatic activity intensifies in Islamabad

The development comes alongside renewed diplomatic efforts in Islamabad, where Iran’s Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held meetings with Pakistan’s senior political and military leadership after arriving on Friday night.

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Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said discussions with the Iranian delegation would continue, even as US envoys were expected to arrive in Islamabad. The White House confirmed that Donald Trump would send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks aimed at reviving ceasefire negotiations.

However, Iran has reiterated that any interaction with US officials will remain indirect, with Pakistani authorities acting as intermediaries between the two sides.

Ceasefire holds, challenges remain

The current pause in hostilities stems from an indefinite ceasefire that has largely stopped active fighting. Despite this, economic disruptions continue, particularly affecting global energy supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan has been playing a mediating role, seeking to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table. The ceasefire extension earlier this week was announced by Trump following Islamabad’s request for more time to pursue diplomatic engagement.

Talks continue after earlier deadlock

Araghchi and US representatives had previously engaged in indirect talks in Geneva on February 27 regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, but those discussions did not yield an agreement.

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The next day, Israel and the United States launched military action against Iran, escalating tensions in the region.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan “to hear the Iranians out,” adding that Washington had seen “some progress from the Iranian side” in recent days, without providing further details.