Iran Halts Air Travel with 7 African Countries Due to Omicron Variant

The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization is suspending air travel with seven African countries due to the discovery of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, in Southern Africa. This was announced by the agency's press service.

The suspension affects travelers from countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic, Lesotho, and Eswatini. As a precaution, several countries have announced the cessation of air communication with the Republic of South Africa and other Southern African nations.

The first cases of suspected Omicron variant infections were reported on Saturday by authorities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Austria. Confirmed cases of the variant have been documented in Belgium, Hong Kong, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy.