Istanbul: Turkish authorities have seized a plane belonging to Iran's Caspian Airlines at Istanbul Airport, an official said Tuesday, with Turkish and Iranian media linking it to an unpaid three-million-euros($3.4 million) debt.
The seizure took place on Monday after passengers had boarded the Boeing 737, which was waiting to take off when officials detained it on the basis of a court-issued seizure order, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu said.
The reports did not mention the recently imposed US sanctions against Iranian airlines as Washington seeks to economically isolate the Islamic Republic.
In a written response to AFP, a Turkish government official confirmed the move, saying it was linked to "a commercial dispute" but did not give further details.
"We can confirm that a Caspian Airlines aircraft at Istanbul Airport was subject to an enforcement measure pursuant to a decision by the competent authorities. The matter arises from a commercial dispute," he said, asking not to be identified.
In a statement, a Turkish government official confirmed the move, saying it was linked to "a commercial dispute" but did not give further details.
In a statement quoted by Iranian state television, Caspian Airlines said it had encountered "temporary operational restrictions regarding one of its Boeing aircraft due to an administrative issue in Turkey".
The report said passengers were forced to disembark but that the airline had taken "administrative" steps with regard to a three-million-euro debt for "Istanbul Airport services".
It said the plane would return to Iran on Tuesday.
Turkey has so far not complied with the new US sanctions announced in early September, which threatened that anyone doing business with Iran's airlines risks being cut off from the dollar-dominated global financial system.
Several airlines, including Iran Air, continue to offer regular flights between the two countries.
However, Mahan Air, a major freight transporter, said it was suspending all flights to Turkey from September 21 at the request of the Turkish aviation authorities.
Iran has been at war since late February, when the United States and Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign that killed the Islamic republic's supreme leader.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned there would be consequences for countries that do not join the campaign to economically isolate Iran.
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