Iran Calls on Iraq to Ease Flight Restrictions Amid U.S. Sanctions

Iran calls on Iraq to lift flight curbs tied to U.S. sanctions and restore normal air travel.

Iran reiterated its call on Baghdad to lift residual flight bans imposed by American sanctions, emphasizing the necessity of restoring full air connectivity between the two nations, despite the partial revival of services at one Iraqi airport earlier in the week.

In a Thursday statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned Washington’s actions as illegal and inhumane attempts to impede Iranian trade and air transport via the extraterritorial application of U.S. sanctions, urging Baghdad to remove these limitations.

It said the movement of millions of Iranian and Iraqi nationals required “an independent and responsible approach” to the bilateral disputes.

Flights between Najaf and Iran resumed late Monday, as reported by the Iraqi state news agency, crediting diligent efforts by Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi as the key factor in the recovery.

Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra al‑Hajjaj, affirmed that Baghdad had not opted to suspend flights operated out of Iranian territory.

Foreign ground‑handling firms declined to offer services, wary of potential repercussions under U.S. sanctions.

Flights continued to be blocked at Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports, compelling travelers to undertake at least a 12‑hour land journey and hampering pilgrimage traffic in the Shia‑dominated regions.

The suspension measures sparked protests throughout Iraq, notably near Najaf Airport and in cities such as Nasiriya, Karbala, and Amarah, as reported by Press TV.

Implementing this measure on 23 September has drastically reduced Iran’s international air capacity.

According to FlightRadar24, passenger numbers on Iranian outbound flights to and from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport have dropped dramatically—by 42 percent—while routes to Georgia, Oman, and Azerbaijan have been completely suspended, and operations to Dubai have ceased since mid‑September.

Flights to China have remained stable, whereas travel to Turkey, the most frequented destination, has decreased by merely 19 percent, although airlines continue to adjust their schedules along the corridor.

Iraq’s authorities previously petitioned the United States for an exemption, citing humanitarian considerations such as medical care, education, religious visiting privileges, and civilian welfare.

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