June 15th, 2011
Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Khatem al-Anbiya Air Force, Farzad Ismaili, stated, regarding the ban on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plane from entering Iranian airspace, “The pilot of that plane made a mistake and we have no issue whatsoever. If this plane, like hundreds of other flights which cross our airspace, had shared its flight plan with us, it would have been permitted to cross. This airplane got permission and crossed our airspace after the pilot eventually made contact.”
In an interview with Fars News Agency, Ismaili responded to the German Foreign Ministry’s denial of Iran’s version of the story and claimed that the pilot had submitted its flight plan to Iran correctly: “If this was the only flight from Germany which was crossing, then that would be the case, but each day we deal with up to 60 East Asia-bound flights from Europe, and they all coordinate with us hence there’s no problem.” Commander Ismaili further specified that, “Any airplane intending to enter the Islamic Republic of Iran’s borders must coordinate with my department which is at the disposal of the Khatem-al-Anbiya Brigade.” Ismaili emphasized at the end of his speech that, “If Ms. Merkel again wishes to cross Iranian airspace, an authorization will be issued, of course, provided that she respects our national and international rules and customs.”