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US Grants Sanctions Waiver for Flights Between Iran and Iraq's Najaf
Confirmed
In Short: The US Treasury is set to grant a sanctions waiver to Iraqi Airways, allowing the airline to resume flights between Iran and Najaf for one month, according to sources.
The US Treasury is set to grant a sanctions waiver to Iraqi Airways, allowing the airline to resume flights between Iran and Najaf for one month, according to sources.
Iraqi Airways had halted flights to Najaf and three other Iraqi airports due to fears of secondary sanctions by the United States targeting aviation services linked to Tehran.
The waiver comes after Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi sought exemptions from US sanctions for travel between Iran and Iraq for medical treatment, education, and religious pilgrimage.
According to Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation chief Abuzar Shiroudi, coordinated efforts are underway with Iran’s Foreign Ministry to resume flights legally.
Shiroudi said the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had ruled in Iran’s favour regarding its formal protest over US aviation sanctions.
The move aims to ease pressure on the Iraqi government, which has sought to deepen ties with Washington while also maintaining strong relations with Iran.
Najaf, a center for religious study, draws millions of pilgrims a year to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first Shiite leader, and the world’s largest and oldest active Islamic cemetery.
The US sanctions on Iranian airlines came into force on September 23, putting foreign airports and companies that service sanctioned Iranian carriers at risk of secondary sanctions.
In recent days, countries including Turkey, the UAE, and Iraq have canceled direct flights with Iran as a result of US pressure.
Iran’s civil aviation chief said Iran is seeking explanations from several countries regarding halted flight routes through diplomatic channels.
The proposed arrangement would initially allow Iraqi Airways to operate the flights for one month, with the possibility of a longer-term waiver later.
Iraq has assured Washington that the flights would not be used to transport weapons, sanctioned individuals, or illicit funds.
What this adds
The waiver is a response to the abrupt shutdown of flights that stranded thousands of pilgrims, students, and patients.
The move highlights the tension between the US's 'maximum pressure' campaign on Iran and the need for stability in Iraq.
What's confirmed
- BAGHDAD: US President Donald Trump’s administration was set to grant a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program on Monday to allow for flights carrying Shiite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.
- The source, who is involved in the deliberations, said the US Treasury Department waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to fly back and forth between Iran and the Shiite holy city of Najaf in Iraq for one month, with a more permanent waiver potentially following.
- An Iraqi official said the Iraqi government was in talks with the US about the Najaf exemption and expected flights between Iran and Najaf to resume within 48 hours.
- Iraq halted flights to and from Iran on Friday, in line with US sanctions.
What's still developing
- According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the CEO of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International airport said flights to East Asia are operating without cancellations.
- Tehran filed a UN complaint against US sanctions forcing regional cancellations of Iran flights.
- The measures have not grounded Iranian aviation altogether.
- Trump’s effort to impose a crippling economic blockade on Iran is forcing regional governments to scale back ties with Iran, creating potential backlash against those states, particularly those that balance their ties with both Washington and Tehran.
- The source said that barring flights between the two countries could cause severe backlash against Iraq’s government by uniting Shiites who follow Iran’s supreme leader and those who follow Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, undermining US efforts to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq.
- Zaidi has offered to provide safeguards for the flights, including rigorous screening and information sharing as well as ensuring the flights are not used for transfer of weapons, sanctioned individuals or illicit money, the source said.
- In response, Iranian officials have threatened to halt regional air travel if Iran’s air links continued to be cut.
- SAFEGUARDS OFFERED According to the source, Zaidi's government has offered safeguards for the flights, including strict passenger screening and information sharing.