Iraq Approves 40 Daily Flights from Iran to Najaf Following US Sanctions Exemption

Demonstrators gathered outside the Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf International Airport in Najaf on September 28, 2026, demanding the facility be reopened for flights from Iran. Following a US sanctions exemption, Iraq agreed to permit Iranian airlines—with the exception of Mahan Air—to operate up to 40 flights daily to and from Najaf International Airport.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s office announced the agreement on Friday, just a day after Tehran urged Baghdad to lift restrictions that it argued negatively impacted pilgrims, patients, students, and business activities. This new deal helps restore connections between the two Shia-majority neighbors after Washington imposed sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector last month.

Al-Zaidi expressed appreciation for the positive response and cooperation from the US government in granting the necessary exemption, noting in a statement from his office that air travel serves as a vital bridge of communication between peoples.

In addition, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that the resumption of flights reinforces an Iraqi-US partnership built on mutual respect. Hussein also praised the US understanding of the importance of religious freedom and facilitating access for visitors to holy sites.

The US Treasury previously announced sanctions on September 8 against 36 entities tied to Iran’s aviation sector. Consequently, foreign ground-handling companies declined to service Iranian aircraft to avoid US penalties, halting flights across four Iraqi airports. Shortly after, the Iraqi government engaged in direct talks with Washington to secure an exemption.

Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran, Yasser al-Hajjaj, clarified to the IRNA news agency that Baghdad had not ordered the flight halt. However, the suspension triggered protests outside Najaf airport as well as in Nasiriya, Karbala, and Amarah, according to Iran’s Press TV.

Najaf serves as the primary destination for Iranian flights in Iraq, carrying Iraqi Shia Muslim pilgrims to Iran's holy sites and Iranian visitors to sacred locations in Iraq. Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad, Mohammad Kazem al-Sadegh, noted that prior to the ban, there were approximately 25 daily flights from Iran to Najaf and about 15 flights to Baghdad, transporting 12,000 to 13,000 travelers daily.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that Washington's extraterritorial enforcement of sanctions disrupted trade and air transport. Although flights between Najaf and Iran resumed late on Monday according to the Iraqi News Agency, flights remain suspended at airports in Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah, requiring passengers to endure land journeys of at least 12 hours. Al Jazeera has not independently verified the exemption with representatives in Washington.