Iraq seeks US exemption from ban on Iranian flights

Iraq has entered direct discussions with the United States to request exemptions from recent US aviation sanctions that target companies doing business with Iranian airlines. The move follows Washington’s announcement of the measures and subsequent suspension of Iranian flights at four Iraqi airports: Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s media office said the sought exemptions would permit flights to resume on humanitarian grounds, citing medical treatment, education, religious visits and other civilian needs. Baghdad framed its outreach to Washington as part of efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, warning that prolonged crises would further complicate the situation.

The suspension has immediate practical effects: passengers who would have flown between the two countries are now undertaking land journeys of at least 12 hours. The disruption has hit groups with deep cross-border ties, including roughly 100,000 Iraqi students studying in Iran, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis living in Iran, and pilgrims travelling to religious sites—particularly to and from Najaf and Iran’s holy cities.

The halt to flights provoked protests in Baghdad organised by Iran-allied Iraqi militias and a vigil by scholars and students from the Hawza of Najaf, whose Scholarly Assembly criticised the suspensions and urged the government to protect Iraqi decision-making and regional bonds. Iraqi and Iranian diplomats said contacts were ongoing and suggested a temporary pause in services would not damage long-term relations, though no timetable for resuming normal air traffic was provided.