IranAir (IR, Tehran Mehrabad) aims to restore flights to Europe once sanctions are lifted and regulatory approvals are regained, according to CEO Taher Abdolhai. The flag carrier lost access to EU and UK routes after sanctions were imposed in 2024 over Iranian military support for Russia. Abdolhai said the airline's immediate focus is East Asia, while Europe remains a long-term goal. Reinstatement would require renewed EU approval and EASA Third Country Operator recertification before services could resume. However, IranAir is not among 27 Iranian carriers listed in the latest sweeping sanctions announced by the United States on September 8, 2026.