Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has revoked the license of Iran’s Mahan Air, barring it from landing at Saudi airports or flying through Saudi airspace.

The decision, announced on July 16 by the state-run Tasnim News Agency, cited violations of internal regulations and risks to the safety of international operators within Saudi territory. This move reflects the ongoing strained relations between Tehran and Riyadh. Earlier, on May 29, Iranian state media reported that Saudi Arabia expelled six members of an Iranian media team linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office. These journalists and documentarians from Al-Alam News Network and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) were detained in Medina while filming at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi mosque and deported back to Iran after several hours of interrogation.

The IRIB Chief, Peyman Jebelli, expressed surprise at the arrest, stating that the crew was recording Quran recitations. This incident occurred amid heightened rhetoric from Khamenei, who had called for a “Hajj of repudiation,” urging strong stances against perceived adversaries and supporting causes like Palestine. The revocation of Mahan Air’s license and the media team’s expulsion are part of a broader historical context of mistrust between the two nations. Incidents such as the 1987 Hajj clash, where Iranian operatives disguised as pilgrims attempted to disrupt ceremonies in Saudi Arabia, underscore the long-standing tensions.

Despite these confrontations, there have been recent diplomatic dialogues. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian discussed progress in bilateral relations and emphasized cooperation.Mahan Air, designated by the U.S. Treasury in 2011 for supporting the IRGC-QF, has faced multiple sanctions for transporting weapons and personnel, aiding terrorist activities, and supporting groups like Hezbollah in Syria. The latest Saudi action further complicates the already intricate Iran-Saudi relations, marked by both confrontational and diplomatic efforts.

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