Iran resumes flights from war-damaged airport in NW province

TEHRAN -- Iran's Tabriz Shahid Madani International Airport, which had been partially damaged during the country's 12-day war with Israel, has resumed operations, Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) said in a statement on Saturday.

Located in East Azarbaijan province, Tabriz Shahid Madani International Airport is one of the "main aerial arteries" in northwestern Iran, according to the statement.

The CAO issued the permit for the resumption of the airport's operations following the completion of field inspections of the damaged runways, assessments of the technical, operational and security circumstances, preparation of the infrastructure, as well as removal of flight restrictions in Iran's airspace.

The airport had sustained serious damages to its infrastructure and aviation equipment, the statement added, noting that the first flight, destined for Istanbul, successfully departed from the airport on Saturday.

Iran closed its airspace on June 13 following Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other areas. After a 12-day aerial conflict, the two countries achieved a ceasefire on June 24.

Iran on Thursday reopened its airspace to domestic, foreign, and international transit flights, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development announced, adding the decision was made following the CAO's approval as well as precise security and safety assessments.