Iran has banned the use of paging and radio devices on all its flights, following deadly explosions linked to these devices in Lebanon, which Iran and Hezbollah have attributed to Israel.
The announcement, made on Saturday, October 12, comes in the wake of heightened security concerns in the region.
According to Iran’s Student News Agency (ISNA), Jafar Yazarloo, the spokesperson for the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, stated that “no electronic communication device, except for mobile phones, is allowed in the aircraft cabin, whether carried by passengers or as unaccompanied cargo.”
This decision follows an incident over three weeks ago in Lebanon, where paging and communication devices, reportedly used by members of Hezbollah, exploded, killing at least 39 people.
Among the injured were around 3,000 individuals, including Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani. Iran and Hezbollah have accused Israel of orchestrating the attack.
Earlier this month, Dubai-based Emirates Airlines also prohibited the use of paging and radio devices on its flights.
Tensions in the region have been rising since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October last year, with armed factions allied with Iran becoming increasingly involved in the conflict from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
In recent weeks, several airlines have suspended flights to Iran following a missile attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel on October 1.
Iran launched approximately 200 missiles in retaliation for the killing of commanders allied with Tehran, including a senior general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
