In an incident that could trigger a diplomatic row, Iran today disallowed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's aircraft overflight rights while she was en-route to India, but later relented after negotiations.
As a result, the VVIP flight, which besides the German Chancellor had a large delegation on board, had to circle over Turkey for two hours before being given permission to enter Iranian airspace in the wee hours of today, German paper Der Spiegel reported.
The flight was finally allowed to fly over the Iranian airspace - the normal flight route between Europe and India - following a hour-long negotiation with Tehran which was mediated by Turkey and involved the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, it said.
Merkel on her way to India arrived late in New Delhi this morning as a result of the delay.
"There has never been an incident like this," said German government spokesman Steffen Seibert. PTI
