The Iraqi government is engaging in discussions with the United States to obtain an exemption from sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines, which have recently disrupted travel for patients, students, and pilgrims, officials said Saturday. The enforcement of the U.S. ban came into effect this week at all Iraqi airports, significantly impacting operations at the airport serving Najaf, a key destination for Iranian travelers due to its religious significance.
A statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s media office indicated that Baghdad is seeking to exempt certain Iraqi airports from these restrictions to allow flights for humanitarian purposes, including medical treatment, education, and religious visits. Iranian carriers primarily transport Iraqi Shiite pilgrims traveling to holy sites in Iran and facilitate visits to sacred locations in Iraq by Iranian nationals. The flights also provide vital connections for Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients receiving medical care there.
The sanctions have posed substantial challenges for many Iraqis. Several individuals reported being stranded or facing lengthy alternate journeys exceeding 12 hours by land. There are growing concerns that medical treatment access in Iran could be compromised if flights do not resume soon.
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh, speaking to Iranian news agency ISNA, confirmed that Iran is also coordinating with Iraqi authorities to restore these flights. He noted that approximately 25 daily flights operate from Iran to Najaf, alongside about 15 flights to Baghdad, with an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 passengers traveling between the two countries on Iranian airlines each day. “This ban has created problems even for the Iraqis themselves, including Iraqi students studying in Iran,” the ambassador stated.
The United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Iranian airlines would be effectively "shut down" beginning Wednesday, prompting Iraq, along with other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, to enforce the ban. Iraqi carriers had already ceased flights to Iran following the outbreak of broader regional hostilities in February.
Iraq and Iran maintain close ties, grounded in shared Shiite religious affiliations as well as political and economic cooperation. The current restrictions have thus strained not only travel but also these longstanding connections, highlighting the humanitarian impact of the sanctions on civilians reliant on cross-border air travel.