Iran Regrets Saudi Closing of Airspace to Sudanese Presidential Flight

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Araqchi expressed deep regret over Saudi Arabia’s decision to close its airspace to the flight of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who intended to visit Iran to take part in the inaugural ceremony of President Hassan Rouhani,according to FNA.

 “We were informed by the Sudanese Embassy in Tehran that one of the countries on the flight route of Omar al-Bashir’s plane did not give the permission for his plane to fly over its airspace,” Araqchi said on Sunday.

The Iranian diplomat went on to say, “If it is true that this country has committed such an act, it is deeply regrettable.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman further said Tehran is investigating the details of this issue.

Yesterday, the al-Mayadeen news website reported that Riyadh had closed its airspace to the Sudanese Presidential flight.

The Sudanese president was traveling to Tehran to attend Rouhani’s inauguration ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

Al-Mayadeen added that President al-Bashir’s plane has returned to Khartoum Airport.

The Sudanese president had been invited by the Iranian foreign ministry to take part in the swearing-in ceremony of President Rouhani on Sunday.

Sudan’s media outlets had earlier informed that President Bashir would be traveling to Tehran for the ceremony.

R.S