According to the Fars news agency, Iranian Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani has informed Russian commercial pilots in Iran that they have two months to pack and leave. The minister explained his country has a sufficient number of trained qualified pilots, and therefore, foreign pilots are not required.

“Upon an order from the president, the Road and Transport Ministry has given a two-month period, after which all Russian pilots will have to leave the country,” Behbahani said.

Some believe the move is part of “Iran’s growing frustration” with the lack of Russian cooperation regarding Tehran’s ongoing nuclear program. This follows an announcement from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week that he would now be willing to support balanced sanctions against Iran.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)