Transport Minister Mohsen Al-Amri said the aircraft was denied permission to complete its flight because it had not obtained the required authorizations through official government channels, News.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
“No flights will be allowed to operate without obtaining the required authorizations from the internationally recognized government,” Al-Amri said in remarks carried by state-run Al-Yemen TV.
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He added that the flight “did not go through the approved official channels and procedures,” but did not provide further details about the aircraft or its intended mission.
There was no immediate response from either the Houthi group, which controls Sanaa, or Iranian authorities regarding the government’s announcement.
The latest move comes amid rising tensions in Yemen following another dispute involving Iranian aircraft. Earlier this week, the internationally recognized government said its forces struck a runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent another Iranian plane from landing.
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for that attack and responded by launching missile strikes toward Saudi territory, ending a prolonged period of relative calm along the border.
The incident highlights the continuing struggle over control of Yemen’s airspace and infrastructure as the country’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement remain locked in a years-long conflict.
