Millions of Iranians who live in the U.S. have had to travel through Europe or Dubai before transferring to flights destined for Tehran.
DPA – Iran and the United States are negotiating the terms of restarting commercial flights between the two countries after a suspension of nearly 36 years, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday.
“The matter is currently being examined, and the result of the negotiations will be announced at the appropriate time,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Jaber Ansari said.
Iranian Transportation Minister Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi and the country’s civil air traffic authority are leading the talks on the Iranian side, the newspaper Shargh reported.
Millions of Iranians who live in the U.S. have had to travel through Europe or Dubai before transferring to flights destined for Tehran. Iranian President Hassan Rohani has offered to make direct flights possible again.
New York City and Los Angeles are the probable destination cities for flights originating in Tehran. Los Angeles has so many residents originally from Iran that Iranians have nicknamed it Tehrangeles.
The U.S. and Iran have not had diplomatic relations for 36 years. After Rohani was elected in 2013, negotiations resumed between the two countries, largely focusing on Iran’s nuclear program.
Although there are still no diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran, the countries are no longer seen as arch enemies since the nuclear deal was reached last year.
Haaretz