Iran Air plans return to East Asia and reactivation of two A300s

Iran Air plans to resume flights to East Asia after more than a decade away from the region, according to the carrier's chief executive, Taher Abdolhay. He called the return a short-term, concrete goal. He did not say which cities would be served or when flights might begin.

The airline is also looking at North Africa as a possible area for expansion, Abdolhay said.

Alongside the route plans, Iran Air intends to bring two more Airbus A300-600 aircraft back into active service. Each is configured with 265 seats.

Further ahead, the carrier said it wants to restore flights to Europe, though that ambition depends on the lifting of restrictions currently imposed by the European Union, according to Abdolhay. Stockholm, Gothenburg, Milan and Rome were among the cities mentioned as potential future destinations.

No timeline was given for any of these plans. The executive's comments were reported as statements of intent rather than confirmed schedules.