Politics After explosions in Lebanon: Iran bans pagers on flights

Iran has banned passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on all flights. The new order applies to both hand luggage and suitcases, a spokesperson for the Iranian aviation authority told the Isna news agency. Passengers are now only allowed to take their cell phones on board.

Numerous pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia in Lebanon exploded in September. At least 39 people were killed and around 3,000 injured, some of them seriously. The majority of the victims were Hezbollah members.

Iran is Hezbollah's closest ally in the fight against its arch-enemy Israel. Both blamed the Israeli secret service Mossad for the pager attacks. Following the Iranian attacks on Israel, Tehran fears that a similar Mossad operation could also be carried out against Iran.