US sanctions leave Iranians facing flight cancellations and soaring costs

In late September, travellers could still fly directly from Tehran to Dubai in less than three hours, with a ticket costing between $100 and $200.Less than a month later, it can take up to 18 hours to make the same journey and cost more than $1,000.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Ahead of US midterms, voters are frustrated with Trump, want change: Polllist 2 of 3What is the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ US could use in Iran?list 3 of 3US-Iran stalemate: What are Trump’s next military options?end of listThe change is the result of a new round of United States sanctions targeting Iranian airlines and foreign companies providing them with services. The restrictions intensified after a September 23 deadline for companies to stop servicing Iranian carriers, leading to the suspension of direct flights between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a number of other countries.The United States has sought to block routes into and out of Iran and, more broadly, restrict access to the country. In August, the US announced Operation Economic Outcast as a means of increasing pressure on Iran, targeting the few remaining sectors of the Iranian economy still connected to the global e...