“We were informed by the Sudanese Embassy in Tehran that one of the countries on the flight route of Mr. Omar al-Bashir’s plane did not give permission for his plane to fly over its airspace. If it is true that this country has committed such an act, it is deeply regrettable.”

Sudan announced that Saudi Arabia refused to give permission for the plane carrying Bashir to enter its airspace. Saudi authorities forced the aircraft to return to Khartoum.

The Sudanese leader was travelling to Iran to take part in the swearing-in ceremony of President Hassan Rohani in Tehran.