ICAO Condemns Iran Over Airspace Violations in Middle East

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has formally condemned the Islamic Republic of Iran for violating the territorial integrity and sovereign airspace of multiple Middle Eastern nations, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to international aviation safety.

In a decision adopted on March 31, 2026, the ICAO Council stated that Iran breached the sovereignty of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, including their respective airspaces. The Council noted that these violations run counter to Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, which recognises the right of every state to full sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.

The aviation body also deplored Iran’s “illegal use of unmanned aircraft systems for military purposes against civilian infrastructure over the territories of the affected member states.”

Citing the principles of the Chicago Convention, the Council referenced United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 and relevant ICAO Assembly resolutions, emphasising that Iran’s actions are inconsistent with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

The Council further warned that unauthorised military incursions into sovereign airspace present a “serious and ongoing risk to the safety of civil aviation,” particularly as they disrupt normal civil flight operations across the region.