“When choosing a travel destination, Georgia was one option for Iranians, but not the only one. There are other destinations, other countries worth visiting, other cultures to explore, and other nations to engage with,” Iranian Ambassador to Georgia Seyed Ali Mojani stated in response to a statement by the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency regarding compliance with US sanctions against Iranian airlines.
As the diplomat noted, “Iran respects the decision taken; however, respecting someone else’s choice does not mean relinquishing the right to one’s own choice.”
“In recent days, Iranian tour operators have approached the consular section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran with fresh inquiries regarding the continuation of tour packages to Georgia. Our answer is clear: Georgia has undoubtedly been an important tourist destination for Iranians along the Black Sea coast. It is a beautiful country with magnificent nature, a rich culture, diverse cuisine, natural springs, and mineral waters, which has hosted numerous Iranian tourists in recent years. We respect Georgia, the Georgian people, and the sovereign choice of this country. Georgia’s recent decision to introduce certain restrictions in line with Western sanctions is a decision that must be respected as that country’s choice. However, respecting someone else’s choice does not mean disregarding the right to our own choice.
Iranians, like any other society, choose travel routes based on a wide range of factors, including safety, accessibility, value, costs, mutual respect, and dignity. Georgia was an option, but not the only one.
The tourism economy is a dynamic, reciprocal sector. The influx of visitors is not merely about arriving travelers: hotels, restaurants, transport, retail, tour guides, artisans, municipal services, and dozens of other economic sectors benefit from it. History itself has demonstrated that travelers have never been just tourists: they carried knowledge, culture, and human connections, and at times forged new avenues for cooperation and development. In this sense, if new circumstances have emerged today, they should not be seen exclusively as a constraint: any obstacle can be turned into an opportunity to seek new paths.
The Black Sea is not the only destination, nor does it have just one coastline. This region features other beautiful, and at times more accessible, coasts and ports that could become new routes for Iranian citizens. There are other destinations, other countries worth exploring, other cultures to experience, and other peoples to connect with. Iranians will continue to travel, discover new horizons, and experience the world, but they will select their routes deliberately—based on mutual benefit and mutual respect. And perhaps this new choice will mark the beginning of new friendships.
Our respect and friendly disposition toward Georgia and the Georgian people remain unchanged. Likewise, the right of Iran and Iranians to make their own choice deserves respect,” the ambassador wrote on social media.
As a reminder, the United States decided to impose sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines, several of which operate flights between Georgia and Iran. The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency subsequently responded to the move, stating that “the Georgian side, as in other instances, will continue to act in strict compliance with the international sanctions regime.”
