Iran bans passenger flights from UK

Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development announced a two-week suspension of flights between Iran and the United Kingdom to avoid the spread of the new COVID-19 strain.

"Flights between Tehran and destinations in the UK will be suspended for two weeks at the discretion of Iran's Ministry of Health," Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Shahram Adamnejad said, as reported by the ministry's official website.

The request to suspend flights, he elaborated, was submitted by Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education in order to prevent the transmission of the new strain registered in England and try to maintain public health, Xinhua reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that a new set of coronavirus restrictions for London and parts of southeast England to combat an alarming surge in infections linked to a new strain.

Many countries have temporarily banned flights from the UK after the new outbreak, including Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Turkey and so on.