Jordan issues two-month moratorium on foreign travel

Jordan, whose economy has been hit hard by the US and Israeli conflict with Iran, has imposed a two-month moratorium on international travel for official delegations and committees, with immediate effect.

The directive, issued by prime minister Jafar Hassan, tightens consumption and spending across all government departments and public institutions, the state-run Jordan News Agency reported.

It also prohibits the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official business and halts the use of state-owned transport outside of official working hours.

Exceptions for international travel will only be granted in cases of extreme necessity, with prior approval from the prime minister. The government has also suspended hosting official foreign delegations within the country for a two-month period.

The use of air conditioning and heating systems in ministries and public facilities will be stopped to control costs, the directive said. 

Jordan is struggling to keep its electricity network running without imports of Israeli gas, which have been suspended since the start of the war against Iran.

The kingdom, which has an unemployment rate of 18 percent, depends on Israeli gas to generate nearly 60 percent of its electricity.

Despite its distance from the Arabian Gulf, Iran has particularly targeted an airbase used by the US in the east of Jordan where a high altitude air defence system has been based and from which strikes against Iran have been launched.

The Jordanian air force has intercepted and destroyed five missiles and one drone launched by Iran over the previous 24 hours, the Jordan News Agency reported on Monday.

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