Returning al-Bashir plane, regrettable

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi has expressed deep regret over the prevention of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s plane from flying to Iran.

Araqchi said on Sunday, “We were informed by the Sudanese Embassy in Tehran that one of the countries on the flight route of Mr. Omar al-Bashir’s plane did not give permission for his plane to fly over its airspace”.
The Iranian diplomat went on to say, “If it is true that this country has committed such an act, it is deeply regrettable.”
Earlier in the day, Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary Emad Sayed Ahmed said Saudi Arabia refused to give permission for the plane carrying Bashir to enter its airspace.
According to Ahmed, Saudi authorities forced the aircraft to return to Khartoum.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman further said Tehran is investigating the details of this issue.
The Sudanese leader was travelling to Iran to take part in the swearing-in ceremony of President Hassan Rohani in Tehran.