British Airways resumes direct flights to Iran for first time since 2012 after lifting of sanctions
The service was suspended due to instability in the Middle Eastern nation
BRITISH Airways has resumed direct flights to Iran following the lifting of sanctions related to the country's nuclear programme.
The route was suspended in October 2012 as a result of instability in the Middle Eastern country.
From today, six return flights per week will operate between London's Heathrow Airport and Tehran, rising to a daily service later this year - with the airline describing the Iranian capital as an "important destination".
The decision to resume service follows the lifting of some sanctions against Iran in January, after the international nuclear watchdog said the Iranian government had met all its obligations under a deal with six world powers.
At the time, the then-foreign secretary Philip Hammond suggested British firms should take advantage of the new opportunities that would arise open as Iran was brought in from the cold.
The announcement also follows Air France's decision to resume flights between Paris and Tehran in April - for the first time in eight years.
In August last year the British embassy in Tehran reopened after it was ransacked by a mob in 2011.
The first BA flight to Iran, a Boeing 777, will depart from Heathrow today at 9.10pm.
Flights were initially due to resume in July but there was a delay in establishing the route.
A BA spokeswoman said: "The Iranians have been extremely helpful in setting up this important new route and have been as keen as we are for the service to start.