Iraq Seeks Exemption from US Ban on Iran Airlines

The Iraqi Government is seeking an exemption from United States sanctions on Iranian airlines after the ban disrupted flights used by patients, students and religious pilgrims.

The government said on Saturday that it was in direct talks with Washington to exempt some Iraqi airports from the restrictions.

“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.

Iraq’s Prime Minister’s media office said an exemption would allow flights to resume for humanitarian purposes, including medical treatment, education, religious visits and other civilian needs.

All Iraqi airports enforced the US ban this week, causing major disruption at Najaf airport, a key destination for flights from Iran.

Iranian airlines transport large numbers of Iraqi Shia pilgrims to religious sites in Iran, while also carrying Iranian visitors to holy sites in Iraq. The flights are also used by Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients travelling there for medical treatment.

Some Iraqis told AFP that the sanctions had left them searching for alternative ways to travel. Some patients feared losing access to medical treatment in Iran, while others were stranded there and faced journeys of more than 12 hours by road to return home.

Iraq is among countries, including the United Arab Emirates, that have implemented the US restrictions after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that Iranian airlines would be shut down.

Iraq and Iran, both predominantly Shia countries, have maintained close relations based on religious, political and economic ties.

Iraqi airlines suspended flights to Iran at the start of the Middle East war in February.