Key facts
- Iranian airlines, excluding Mahan Air, are permitted 40 daily flights to and from Najaf International Airport.
- Iraq had halted flights to and from Iran last week due to U.S. sanctions.
- The U.S. Treasury granted a one-month waiver for flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims.
- The Iraqi government sought exemptions for travel related to pilgrimage, medical treatment, and education.
- The U.S. accuses Mahan Air of transporting Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, weapons, and drones.
Iranian airlines, with the exception of Mahan Air, have been cleared to operate 40 daily flights to and from Iraq's Najaf International Airport, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office on Friday. This development follows a suspension of flights that was implemented last week in compliance with U.S. sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury had previously reported it was set to grant a one-month waiver to permit flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq. The Iraqi government had actively sought these exemptions, specifically for travel related to pilgrimage, medical treatment, and education.
The prime minister's office expressed appreciation for the U.S. government's positive response and cooperation in granting the requested exemption. The U.S. has accused Iranian carrier Mahan Air of involvement in transporting personnel, weapons, and drones for Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Earlier reports indicated that flights between Najaf and Iranian airports had resumed on Monday, following interventions by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and protests, including from Iran-backed militias. The Iraqi Ambassador to Iran had stated that the flights were halted not by government decree, but by foreign ground-handling companies fearing U.S. sanctions.
Iraq's national carrier, Iraqi Airways, will resume flights to Iran in October after securing the special exception to U.S. sanctions, the Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on September 29. The ministry credited Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahab Al-Hassani for the outcome, emphasizing a commitment to strengthening bilateral communication and air transport routes. The Iran-Iraq market has seen a significant reduction in capacity, with five Iranian airlines currently operating scheduled flights.