The Iraqi government announced on Saturday that it is holding direct negotiations with the United States to secure exemptions from US Sanctions On Iranian Airlines
The prime minister’s media office stated that the requested waiver seeks to restore flights for humanitarian reasons—including medical care, education, and religious visits—to alleviate major travel disruptions affecting patients, students, and pilgrims.
The sanctions enforcement went into effect across all Iraqi airports this week, severely impacting operations at the airport in the holy city of Najaf, a primary hub for travel between Iraq and Iran.
“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.
The exemption would allow flights to resume “for humanitarian reasons, including medical treatment, education, religious visits, and for the interest of civilians,” it added.
Iranian airlines primarily transport Iranian travelers to religious sites in Iraq and carry Iraqi Shia pilgrims to holy cities in Iran. The flight routes also serve Iraqi students enrolled in Iranian universities and patients seeking specialized medical treatment across the border.
The enforcement of US sanctions has left affected travelers searching for alternative options. While some patients express concern over missing critical medical procedures in Iran, stranded travelers face land journeys exceeding 12 hours to return home.
Iraq’s implementation of the flight ban follows a directive from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing that Iranian airlines would be shut down globally. Iraq joins several regional nations, including the United Arab Emirates, in enforcing the restrictions.
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Backstory…
The immediate dispute began after the United States intensified sanctions against Iran’s aviation sector.
On September 8, 2026, the US Treasury sanctioned 36 individuals and entities linked to Iran’s aviation industry and warned that foreign companies providing services to sanctioned Iranian airlines could face serious consequences, including exclusion from the US financial system. Washington also suspended several aviation-related authorisations.
Pressure intensified this week after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that secondary sanctions could effectively shut down Iranian airlines worldwide from September 23.
