Iraq in direct talks with US to resume Iran flights, gain airports exemptions: Officials
Iraqi authorities say they are holding direct talks with the United States to exempt some Iraqi airports from US sanctions over flights by Iranian airlines.
Given the measures implemented by the US Department of the Treasury regarding air services operated by Iranian carriers at regional airports, notably in Iraq, Iraqi officials are conducting substantive discussions with their American counterparts to obtain carve-outs for specific Iraqi airports from such restrictions, the Media Bureau of the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Saturday.
“This allows the resumption of flights on humanitarian grounds, including medical treatment, educational purposes, religious visits, and the welfare of civilians,” the statement added.
“As the Iraqi government works to de-escalate tensions in the region, it emphasizes that the persistence of crises further complicates the situation. It calls on all parties to engage in dialogue and negotiations to reach solutions that bring an end to the current crises, in a manner that serves the interests of the countries and peoples of the region,” the statement noted.
On September 8, the US Treasury sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and claimed that airports, fuel suppliers, ground-handling firms and other service providers dealing with sanctioned carriers could face secondary sanctions.
Najaf International Airport, the last Iraqi airport still operating flights to Iran, suspended services at 2 a.m. local time on Friday until further notice, according to an official directive.
Erbil International Airport and Sulaymaniyah’s International Airport took similar measures. Kirkuk International Airport also said it had no flights to Iran.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Al Arabiya that Baghdad would discuss the issue of sanctions with the United States to explore the possibility of providing services to Iranian airlines.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Ambassador to Tehran, Yasser al-Hajjaj, told Al Ahad TV that Iraq and Iran were holding talks to find solutions aimed at resuming flights by Iranian airlines to Iraqi airports.
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 on Friday 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.
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