BAGHDAD: The administration of former US President Donald Trump was poised to grant a temporary waiver to its Iran sanctions regime, allowing for religious pilgrimage flights between Iran and Iraq, according to a source familiar with the deliberations.
The source indicated that the US Treasury Department’s waiver would permit Iraqi Airways to operate round-trip flights between Iran and the Iraqi holy city of Najaf for an initial period of one month, with the possibility of a long-term extension.
In compliance with US sanctions, Iraq suspended all direct flights to and from Iran last Friday.
The source noted that this move was intended to alleviate political pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s government, which has strived to strengthen bilateral ties with Washington while carefully maintaining its robust relationship with Iran, Iraq’s influential neighbor.
Washington’s campaign of maximum economic pressure on Tehran has compelled regional governments to curtail their relations with Iran. This shift risks provoking public backlash, particularly in nations that must strategically balance their alliances between Washington and Tehran.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi’s office announced that Iraq was actively seeking exemptions for cross-border travel with Iran, specifically for medical, educational, and religious pilgrimage purposes.
An Iraqi official confirmed that Baghdad was in active negotiations with Washington regarding the Najaf flight exemption, expressing optimism that flights between Iran and Najaf could resume within 48 hours.
The US State Department directed inquiries to the Treasury Department, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Under intense US pressure, several regional nations—including Turkiye, the UAE, and Iraq—have recently canceled direct flights to Iran. In retaliation, Iranian officials have threatened to completely sever regional air travel if the isolation of Iran’s aviation sector persists.
Given the annual movement of millions of Shiite pilgrims between Iran and Iraq to visit sacred shrines, Iraq finds itself in an exceptionally sensitive geopolitical position.
As a premier center of religious scholarship, Najaf attracts millions of visitors annually to the shrine of Imam Ali—the first Shiite leader—and the world’s largest and oldest active Islamic cemetery.
The source warned that suspending these flights could trigger severe domestic backlash against the Iraqi government. Such a move would unite Shiite factions loyal to Iran’s Supreme Leader with those following Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, thereby undermining Washington’s objective of curbing Iranian influence in Iraq.
According to the source, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi has proposed implementing robust security safeguards for the flights. These measures include rigorous passenger screening, enhanced intelligence sharing, and strict assurances that the flights will not facilitate the movement of weapons, sanctioned entities, or illicit funds.