Iraq demands US exemption for Iranian airlines after flight disruptions

The Iraqi government said on Saturday that it was in talks with the United States to secure an exemption from a ban affecting Iranian airlines, after the measure disrupted travel for patients, students and pilgrims.

The ban was enforced at all Iraqi airports this week, causing significant disruption, particularly at the airport in the holy city of Najaf.

Najaf is a major destination for Iranian flights into Iraq, with the suspension affecting passengers travelling for medical treatment, education and religious activities.

Iraqi authorities are now seeking an exemption from the restrictions to ease the impact on travellers and restore flights between the two countries.

“The Iraqi government is holding direct talks with the American side to exempt certain Iraqi airports from these measures,” the prime minister’s media office said.

An exemption would allow flights to resume “for humanitarian reasons, including medical treatment, education, religious visits, and for the interest of civilians,” it added.

Iranian airlines mainly carry Iraqi Shia pilgrims to Iran’s holy cities or Iranians visiting sacred sites in Iraq. The flights also serve Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients seeking medical treatment there.

Several Iraqis told AFP that enforcing the US sanctions has left them scrambling for solutions, with some fearing they would lose access to treatment in Iran or others stranded there with little choice but to take the more than 12-hour journey home by land.

Iraq has joined several countries including the United Arab Emirates in enforcing the US ban, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iranian airlines would be “shut down” on Wednesday.

Relations between Iraq and neighbouring Iran, both Shia-majority countries, have long been close, due to religious kinship as well as political and economic interests.

Iraqi airlines stopped flying to Iran at the start of the Middle East war in February.

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