"Following the coordination and talks with Bahrain's aviation organization officials, there is no more ban on the resumption of that country's flights to Iran," Head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization Hamid Reza Pahlevani stated.
"Of course, this will happen if the needed coordination and facilities for the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Airline (Iran Air) are provided," he reiterated.
Pilot Pahlevani said the direct flights between Tehran and Manama would resume at the earliest if only Bahrain reciprocates Iran's permission for the operation of the Bahraini Airline.
Earlier in September, officials of Bahrain's national airline had underlined their willingness to restart flights to Iran after halting service to the country at the height of anti-government uprisings in the tiny Persian Gulf country.
"The company (Gulf Air) hopes to receive the agreement of the Iranian officials to resume its flights to Iran, which were suspended last year," Director-General of the company Samer Majali had told the Manama-based al-Wasat daily on September 17.
He said that the Gulf Air expects to strike an agreement with Iranian officials over the resumption of its flights to its big neighbor in the near future.
Gulf Air halted flights to Iran and Iraq in March 2011, citing "operational reasons" but analysts linked the measure to the anti-government rallies and uprising in Bahrain.
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A senior Iranian aviation official voiced Tehran's conditional agreement with the resumption of direct flights between Tehran and Manama, saying that Iran will open its airports to Bahraini flights if Manama reciprocates the move and allows Iranian airliners to fly to Bahrain.
News ID 183080
