Senior cleric Ammar al‑Hakim demands opening of all Iraqi airports to Iranian flights
The leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement has called on civil aviation authorities to open all Iraqi airports to Iranian flights.
The Baghdad government decided to allow Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, to operate up to 40 flights a day to and from Najaf International Airport.
Ammar al‑Hakim thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi after his office announced the agreement on Friday to lift restrictions that could seriously hurt pilgrims, patients, students and businesses.
Hakim described the measure as “an important step” on the path of facilitating transportation and communication between peoples.
“This achievement attests that dialogue and constructive diplomacy can solve unresolved cases, and surmount obstacles to serve the interests of Iraq and its nation,” the senior Iraqi Shia cleric pointed out.
The leader of the Iraqi National Wisdom Movement also voiced his firm solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian nation as they are confronting the US unilateral sanctions.
He urged the Iraqi civil aviation authorities to reopen all airports in the country to flights between the two countries.
Hakim emphasized that the reopening of air routes between Iraq and Iran is of paramount significance, especially for humanitarian purposes, and can ease the links between the two Muslim neighbors.
The decision to halt flights from Najaf to Tehran followed US measures targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
On September 8, the US Treasury sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and threatened airports, fuel suppliers, ground-handling firms, and other service providers dealing with Iranian carriers with secondary sanctions.
Erbil International Airport and Sulaymaniyah’s International Airport took similar measures. Kirkuk International Airport also said it had no flights to Iran.
Several Iraqi political and Resistance figures have criticized the suspension of Iranian flights.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi stated Iran is Iraq’s “neighbor, ally, and friend” and called the airport closure a major mistake, urging authorities to reverse the decision.
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba Secretary-General Akram al-Kaabi vowed in a statement that the Iraqi anti-terror resistance group will stage sit-ins at Iraqi airports nationwide unless normal air traffic between the two Muslim neighboring countries resumes.
On Monday, Iraqi people from every walk of life held protests across the country to condemn the Baghdad government’s decision to suspend all flights to and from Iran.
Later in the day, Iraqi Airways resumed commercial flights between the holy city of Najaf and Iranian airports after Baghdad held direct talks with Washington to secure exemptions for certain aviation facilities from US secondary sanctions.
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