Iraqi Airways to Restart Iran Flights After Receiving US Waiver

Iraqi Airways will resume flights to and from Iran in October, the Iraqi Transport Ministry announced on Tuesday, following a brief suspension prompted by intense US sanctions pressure. Although Iraq had not officially announced the ban imposed on Friday, ground-handling companies had halted services on the routes over concerns of facing penalties from the US Treasury.

The ministry stated that the US has granted Iraqi Airways a sanctions waiver specifically for flights operating between Najaf International Airport and Iranian airports. Previously, Iraqi Airways had suspended flights to Iran in early March shortly after the outbreak of the Iran war. While the US Treasury has not yet confirmed the waiver, The National reached out for comment.

Amid escalating fighting in Yemen, stalled ceasefire efforts, and easing direct US-Iranian fire, Washington has shifted its strategy to increase economic pressure. This involves secondary sanctions targeting foreign companies that conduct business with Iranian firms as part of a broader campaign to isolate Iran economically and force concessions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Monday that any companies dealing with Iranian airlines would be barred from the dollar system. Meanwhile, the temporary flight ban provoked strong backlash from Iran-aligned factions and political parties in Iraq, leading to protests and threats of sit-ins at airports unless services were restored. Groups such as Kataib Hezbollah urged citizens to break the perceived US siege on Iran, while Al Nujaba criticized the suspension as submission to Washington.

The wider US sanctions have also led to Iranian airlines being banned from neighboring countries including the UAE, Oman, and Iraq. Iranian officials have warned that continued restrictions on their flights and airport services could prompt retaliatory measures affecting the entire region.