Iran's cancellation of flights 'critically important, should be monitored closely': Analysis

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#IranAir

#Tehran

Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) announced on Sunday that all flights to and from the country will be cancelled until Monday morning, as reported by the semi-official Mehr news agency. Tohid Asadi, a Tehran-based writer and specialist in Iranian affairs, says it was not immediately clear why aviation authorities had decided to cancel flights until Monday morning.

We do not know much - whether it's going to be " sort of an offensive or defensive action, or simply a measure of precaution," he told Al Jazeera, adding that this remained to be seen.

Asadi noted, however, that the announcement

came amid heightened tensions, citing Israeli

PM Netanyahu's statements threatening Iran in the wake of the missile attack and Tehran's "very strong messages" that an Israeli attack would be met with a "crushing" response. "We will have to wait and see, but under these surging tensions, this is a critically important event that should be monitored very closely,"

Asadi said.