TEHRAN: Iran has imposed a ban on pagers and walkie-talkies aboard all flights, local media reported on Saturday, following deadly sabotage attacks in Lebanon last month which were blamed on Israel.
The ban, which also extends to non-accompanied cargo, was announced by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization on Saturday.
“The entry of any electronic communication device, except mobile phones, in flight cabins or in non-accompanied cargo has been banned,” said Jafar Yazerlo, the aviation agency’s spokesman, as quoted by the ISNA news agency.
The decision follows a tragic incident over three weeks ago in Lebanon, where sabotage attacks involving explosive pagers and walkie-talkies killed at least 39 people. The attacks targeted members of Hezbollah. Iran and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the attacks.
The explosions also wounded nearly 3,000 others, including Tehran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani. Iranian authorities have pointed to Israel as the orchestrator of the sabotage.
Earlier this month, Emirates airline implemented a similar ban on pagers and walkie-talkies aboard its flights.
The security situation has also prompted several airlines to suspend flights to and from Iran. This followed Tehran’s October 1 missile barrage on Israel, in which Iran launched approximately 200 missiles in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and a general in the Revolutionary Guards.
