Pakistani PM’s jet not held in Iran: Official

An Iranian aviation official has dismissed a report by an Indian newspaper The Times of India that Iran deliberately grounded Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s aircraft during his recent visit to Tehran.

“This is not true at all,” Managing Director of Iran’s Airports Company Mohammad Ali Ilkhani told ISNA on Saturday.

On June 5, the daily quoted a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) official as saying that Iranian authorities refused to fuel Sharif’s jet to make the state-run PIA clear its dues amounting to over $5,000.

“The Iranian airport authorities had refused to fuel the Pakistan PM’s aircraft at the Tehran airport on May 12 and warned it would not release the plane until the PIA cleared the outstanding payment,” the PIA official was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Sharif arrived in Tehran on May 11 for a two-day state visit to hold talks with senior Iranian officials.