Dubai:
Iran has threatened to ban airlines from its airspace if they do not use the term "Persian Gulf" on their flight monitors within a fortnight.
Iran would give foreign airlines 15 days to comply and repeated offences would result in planes being impounded and refused permission to leave the country, a Gulf News report quoted Iranian Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani has as saying.
A Greek member of Iranian carrier Kish Air's cabin crew was sacked and deported recently after getting involved in an argument with passengers over whether the name should be "Arabian Gulf" or "Persian Gulf", the report said.
On the other hand, a Dubai-based analyst has said that the announcement is meant to incite the anger of Arab countries.
It is an unwise decision for the Iranians to carry out given their current stage of confrontation with the West over its nuclear programme, Director General of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis Riad Kahwaji told the newspaper.
"Iran is shooting itself in the foot by doing this. They will deprive their country from transiting fees and neighbouring nations will be obliged to impose reciprocal acts against Iranian flights," he said.
Iran would give foreign airlines 15 days to comply and repeated offences would result in planes being impounded and refused permission to leave the country, a Gulf News report quoted Iranian Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani has as saying.
A Greek member of Iranian carrier Kish Air's cabin crew was sacked and deported recently after getting involved in an argument with passengers over whether the name should be "Arabian Gulf" or "Persian Gulf", the report said.
On the other hand, a Dubai-based analyst has said that the announcement is meant to incite the anger of Arab countries.
It is an unwise decision for the Iranians to carry out given their current stage of confrontation with the West over its nuclear programme, Director General of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis Riad Kahwaji told the newspaper.
"Iran is shooting itself in the foot by doing this. They will deprive their country from transiting fees and neighbouring nations will be obliged to impose reciprocal acts against Iranian flights," he said.
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