00:00The alarm in the skies over the Middle East,
00:27as Iran abruptly closed its airspace.
00:31Aircraft were still detected flying toward Iranian territory,
00:35flights linked to China,
00:37landing as tensions with the United States intensify.
00:40With Washington openly weighing its options,
00:43a troubling question emerges.
00:45Is Beijing quietly supplying Tehran ahead of a possible confrontation?
00:51Flight trackers showed Mahan Air aircraft
00:54operating inside Iranian airspace early Thursday,
00:58despite a sudden no-fly zone imposed without explanation.
01:02The presence of these flights immediately fueled speculation,
01:06especially given Iran's escalating standoff with Washington
01:10over its violent crackdown on nationwide protests.
01:14Mahan Air is no ordinary carrier.
01:16The United States designated the airline in 2011
01:20for providing material support to the IRGC codes force,
01:25and again in 2019 for transporting UN-restricted missile
01:29and nuclear-related materials.
01:32Any unusual activity involving the airline draws immediate scrutiny.
01:37While no official confirmation exists,
01:40the timing of the flights, coinciding with Iranian airspace restrictions,
01:43has triggered speculation that China could be moving critical supplies
01:48or equipment into Iran.
01:51Analysts note Beijing has both the capacity
01:53and the strategic interest to quietly bolster Tehran
01:57if U.S. intervention looms.
02:00Iran's airspace closure lasted more than four hours,
02:04forcing international airlines to reroute
02:06around one of the world's most important east-west corridors.
02:10The disruption rippled across global aviation,
02:14underscoring how even brief closures over Iran
02:17can have outsized consequences.
02:20The shutdown revived painful memories.
02:23In 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down
02:27Ukraine International Airlines flight PS-752,
02:32killing all 176 on board.
02:35Iran initially denied responsibility,
02:38later admitting the strike.
02:40A reminder of how quickly aviation risks escalate during crises.
02:45The airspace move coincided with heightened alerts
02:48at U.S. bases in the Gulf.
02:50Personnel in Qatar were advised to take precautionary steps,
02:55while the U.S. embassy in Kuwait temporarily halted visits
02:58to several military installations, signaling serious concern.
03:03President Donald Trump added to the uncertainty with cryptic remarks,
03:07claiming executions in Iran had stopped and telling protesters that help is on the way.
03:14He has not ruled out action, keeping Tehran and its allies guessing.
03:19Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, struck a calmer tone,
03:23urging negotiations and warning against escalation.
03:26But with secretive flights, closed skies and military alerts,
03:31diplomacy appears to be racing against events.
03:34With Iran's airspace briefly shut, sanctioned airlines airborne,
03:39and China's shadow looming in the background,
03:42the region stands on edge.
03:45Whether these flights signal routine logistics or covert preparation,
03:49one thing is clear.
03:51The path to confrontation is getting dangerously crowded,
03:54even in the air.
04:06Subscribe to One India and never miss an update.
04:11Download the One India app now.
Comments