Iran's Supreme National Security Council dismisses rumors of military retaliation regarding air traffic control

Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) dismissed rumors of 'military retaliation' raised by some in relation to the recent air traffic control measures targeting the country and emphasized a diplomatic solution.

According to Iran's official IRNA news agency on the 26th (local time), the SNSC Secretariat announced its official position in a statement on this day, saying, "Inaccurate reports that distorted the remarks of the Secretary-General of the Security Council regarding recent air transportation issues are raising concerns."

In its statement, SNSC clarified three key positions:

First of all, the claim that Iran will take military retaliation against the recent air traffic restrictions is not true at all.

He then emphasized his will to resolve the issue through dialogue, saying, “We are currently conducting serious negotiations with the relevant countries to resolve some illegal air control measures.”

However, it also suggested the possibility of a 'non-military response' in case the situation worsens.

SNSC added, "There are numerous non-military solutions to solve this problem, and if necessary, we will implement them targeting specific airports," adding, "We hope that the situation does not reach that point."

On the 21st, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant warned of a "secondary boycott" (third-party sanctions) against air service providers and said that all Iranian airlines would completely suspend operations as of September 23.

Ahead of the sanctions schedule announced by Minister Bessant, all flights from Iran to Baghdad, Iraq, and Muscat, Oman, were canceled starting the day before.

SNSC Secretary-General Mohsen Rezai, Iran's security chief, said in an interview with the state-run IRIB broadcaster on the 23rd, "Neighboring countries should not interfere in the issue of Iranian flight operations and should not be caught up in the US' play."

He went on to warn, “If they intervene, we will restrict the operations of aircraft from neighboring countries cooperating with the United States.”