Take off to Tehran with one of the 6x weekly British Airways flights from winter 2016

The route will launch as a six-per-week service before moving to daily flights from winter 2016, giving customers even more choice and flexibility between London and the Middle East.

The service from Heathrow Terminal 5 will be operated by a four-class Boeing 777.

Neil Cottrell, British Airways’ head of network planning, said: “Iran is a large and growing economy and Tehran is a brilliant business city so we are incredibly excited to be adding another gateway to the Middle East for our customers.

The recent lifting of sanctions opens up exciting new prospects for Iran as a tourist destination and with its rich heritage, unique architecture and world-class food it’s unsurprising Tehran is tipped to be a popular destination for 2016.”

The airline has a long history of flying to the city and offered the first scheduled flights between London and the Iranian capital in 1946.

Tehran is one of 14 new routes British Airways will be launching this year, which include San Jose, Costa Rica, San Jose, California and Lima in Peru.

Return fares start from £384 for World Traveller, £728 for World Traveller Plus, £2163 for Club World and £3763 for First.

As well as being a bustling business centre, Tehran is a treasure chest of mosques, fortresses and temples and the city’s Tachara Palace is world-famous for its stunning architecture.

Culture vultures can visit the ghost town of Koporak in Yazd, skiers can head to the slopes in Tochal, and savvy shoppers can explore the maze of bustling alleys and stalls in Tehran’s oldest and biggest bazar.

British Airways flights include free food and drink, free online check-in and seat selection 24 hours prior to departure. For further information visit: www.ba.com