Iran Suspends Flights to Baghdad and Muscat Ahead of Impending US Aviation Sanctions

An employee works at the office of Iran's Mahan Air in Erbil, Iraq, September 22, 2026. [Khalid Al-Mousily/Reuters]

Flights departing from Iran destined for Baghdad and Muscat are scheduled for cancellation starting at midnight, just prior to the implementation of new United States sanctions on Wednesday, according to a report by Tasnim News Agency.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization informed the news agency that ongoing negotiations aim to redirect flights originally headed for Baghdad to [Iraq’s] Najaf Airport instead.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ISNA news agency indicated that discussions with Oman continue, noting that all other international flights—including routes to Istanbul—will proceed according to the normal schedule.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday that all Iranian airlines face shutdown by September 23 through the enforcement of secondary sanctions targeting aviation service providers, marking seven months since the onset of the war between the US and Iran.

Bessent explained to CNBC that when Iranian carriers land at any airport, service providers face severe consequences: “you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system”.

This measure represents the latest escalation in Washington’s broader sanctions initiative directed against Tehran.

Aviation analysts speaking to Al Jazeera pointed out that while the US holds no direct authority to close foreign airspace, focusing penalties on local refuelling and ground-handling providers effectively produces the same result by eliminating vital operational backing.

Earlier this month, the US implemented more rigorous regulations managed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which target financial institutions, energy, and trade.

Furthermore, the administration of President Donald Trump broadened secondary sanctions late in August, cautioning that foreign businesses engaging with Iran in sectors such as shipping, gold, technology, and digital assets will encounter their own penalties.

Despite these pressures, Tehran indicated on Saturday its willingness to engage in Qatari-mediated talks aimed at achieving a long-term settlement, even as it maintained a defiant posture toward Washington.

“It is in Washington’s interest to accept these conditions,” stated Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s security chief, during an interview with Al Jazeera last week. “Trump’s threats will not achieve any results. We are prepared for a decisive war.”