00:00Iran just threatened to shut down airports across the Middle East if regional countries help the
00:04U.S. ground its airlines. And this time, the battlefield isn't the sea, the oil fields,
00:10or the Strait of Hormuz. It's the skies. Washington is now trying to cut Iranian
00:15airlines off from international aviation by threatening sanctions against the companies
00:19and airports that continue servicing them. That includes fuel, landing services, ground handling
00:24and ticketing. And the pressure is already spreading across the region. Iranian flights
00:29have been suspended to destinations, including the UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Baghdad.
00:35The UAE, one of the world's biggest aviation hubs, has now suspended flights operated by
00:40Iranian airlines until further notice. But Tehran is warning that this could come at a price.
00:45On September 23, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, warned neighboring
00:52countries against cooperating with Washington. His message was blunt. If you stop Iranian flights,
00:57Iran says your airports will no longer be able to function. And that is where this becomes much
01:02bigger than an aviation dispute. Because West Asia sits at the crossroads of some of the world's
01:06busiest international air routes. A serious disruption could affect passengers.
