Iraq’s government held direct talks with the United States on Saturday to seek exemptions for certain Iraqi airports from measures targeting Iranian airlines. The request aimed to restore flights disrupted by new US sanctions.
The media office of Ali Al-Zaidi, Iraq’s prime minister, issued a statement confirming the discussions. “The Iraqi government is holding direct talks with the American side to exempt certain Iraqi airports from these measures,” the office said. An exemption would allow flights to resume “for humanitarian reasons, including medical treatment, education, religious visits, and for the interest of civilians,” it added.
The United States Treasury Department had announced sanctions on September 8 against 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector. These included 27 Iranian airlines. Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, later stated that Iranian airlines would be shut down around the world from September 23.
He warned that firms providing fuel, landing services or tickets to the carriers risked exclusion from the US financial system.
In addition, all Iraqi airports enforced the restrictions this week. Major disruption followed at Najaf airport, the primary destination for Iranian flights into Iraq. Airports in Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah also suspended services. Ground-handling companies stopped assisting Iran-linked flights due to concerns over penalties.
Iranian airlines had mainly carried Iraqi Shia pilgrims to holy cities in Iran. They also transported Iranians visiting sacred sites in Iraq, along with Iraqi students studying there and patients seeking medical treatment. Several travellers reported scrambling for alternatives after the ban took effect. Some faced the prospect of a land journey lasting more than 12 hours.
In addition, the Iraqi government statement stressed efforts to de-escalate regional tensions. It called on all parties to pursue dialogue and negotiations to resolve the current crisis in a manner that serves the interests of countries and peoples in the region. The outcome of the talks with Washington remained pending as of Saturday.
