Iraq has secured a special exception to resume flights to Iran through Najaf International Airport, overcoming a brief suspension triggered by tightening United States sanctions on Tehran’s aviation sector. The regulatory breakthrough follows intensive government efforts led by Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.
Sanctions Pressure and the Sudden Grounding at Najaf Airport
The disruption began when Najaf International Airport announced a complete halt to all incoming and outgoing flights involving Iran. That directive arrived in response to sweeping American measures targeting Iran’s commercial aviation network.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier signaled severe penalties for any international entity engaging with Iranian carriers, threatening exclusion from the American dollar system for airports providing refueling, ground handling, or ticketing services. While Iraqi authorities maintained that no official government order had halted the routes, foreign ground service providers abruptly withdrew their assistance out of fear of secondary sanctions.
Diplomatic Push and the Special US Sanctions Waiver
Intensive diplomatic channels shifted the situation as Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahab Al-Hasani, pressed Washington for relief. An official Iraqi source confirmed that the United States granted Iraqi Airways a limited waiver.
The Treasury Department exemption specifically permits the national carrier to fly between Najaf and Iran for a designated one-month period, ensuring that Shia religious pilgrims can continue traveling between the two nations.
Operational Preparations for October Flights
Iraqi Airways is moving quickly to prepare its fleet for the restored corridor. According to transport ministry statements, the airline is working at an accelerated pace to ready aircraft and finalize technical requirements ahead of formal flight launches scheduled for October.
While Iraqi officials have confirmed the special exception and noted that operations will initially center on Najaf International Airport, airport personnel report that concrete flight schedules are still being compiled.