Iraq suspends all Iranian flights to enforce US sanctions

Iraq's Najaf International Airport suspended all flights to and from Iran on Friday, a move to enforce US sanctions, according to the airport director. Hussein Muhanna told AFP that the flights were halted following a directive from the prime minister's office to the governor of Najaf. The airport in the holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, is a significant destination for Iranian airlines, primarily carrying Iraqi Shia pilgrims to Iran's holy cities or Iranians visiting sacred sites in Iraq. The routes also serve Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients seeking medical treatment there. Iranian airlines were suspended at 02:00 am (2300 GMT Thursday). Several sources indicated that Iraq would enforce the US ban on Iranian airlines, joining other countries like the United Arab Emirates. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously stated that Iranian airlines would be "shut down."

Following Najaf's action, Iraq's Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports also suspended Iranian flights starting Friday. This means flights to and from Iran are now suspended at all four Iraqi airports where Iranian airlines were operating: Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaimaniya, according to two sources. The US had announced it would impose sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines after September 23, with the aim of grounding Iran's entire civilian fleet worldwide.