Iran closes large parts of its airspace ahead of missile drill

Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority issued an unusual official notice to pilots (NOTAM) on Wednesday, announcing the closure of large sections of the country’s airspace.

The notice said the closure is to allow a planned missile launch exercise tomorrow. It specified danger zones where flying will be completely banned due to military activity. 

The move has caused serious concern among international airlines, many of which have already begun rerouting flights.

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Following Iran’s announcement, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an urgent safety alert for civil aircraft operators. The FAA urged airlines to exercise a “higher level of caution” when flying over or near the area, warning that uncoordinated missile launches could pose catastrophic risks, including endangering civilian flight paths.

Airspace is now under continuous monitoring. Security officials see the closure as a show of force by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Tensions are rising amid direct threats from US President Donald Trump, who said he would not hesitate to use the Diego Garcia base and its strategic bombers to deter any threat from Tehran.

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