European aviation agency bars flights over nine Middle East countries; president warns Iran faces major demographic shift

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has prohibited airlines from flying through the airspace of nine Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman—until November 16, according to the agency. Separately, the president said in a message to a World Elderly Day conference that Iran is approaching a major demographic change and that by 1430 (Hijri) more than 30 percent of the population will be elderly; he added that the window to prepare related infrastructure is limited but still available to the country.