WANA (Sep 29) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued a temporary authorization allowing Iraqi airlines to operate flights between Iraq and Iran, subject to a series of restrictions and conditions. Under the authorization, only Iraqi airlines may transport passengers, while Iranian airlines will continue to be prohibited from entering Iraqi airspace.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s notice, the authorization is valid until October 28, 2026, and the United States reserves the right to revoke or amend it at any time.
Under the authorization, permitted flights must depart from and return to Najaf International Airport. The flights are authorized solely to transport Iranian nationals traveling for the purpose of visiting religious sites.
The U.S. Treasury has prohibited the transfer of large amounts of cash, cargo related to Iran’s intelligence, military and law-enforcement agencies, as well as the transportation of sanctioned individuals. This means that, under the authorization, Iranian officials and figures subject to U.S. sanctions will not be permitted to travel by air for pilgrimages to the holy sites.
The transportation of goods is also limited to passengers’ personal baggage and items necessary for flight safety. The export of goods, technology and software to Iran is prohibited except in the cases specifically permitted under the authorization.
Iraq is also required to prevent Iranian flights from entering or transiting its airspace outside the authorized cases. Otherwise, the authorization may be revoked or amended.
The Iraqi airline is further required to provide the United States with full passenger information, including their names and passport numbers, as well as details of expenses incurred in Iran for fuel, maintenance and other airport services.
Protests in Iraq Over Restrictions on Iranian Passengers
The authorization comes as Najaf Airport officially announced last Friday morning that it would no longer provide services to Iranian passengers and that the airport had been closed to Iranian aircraft, triggering widespread anger and surprise among sections of Iraqi society.
In recent days, numerous online campaigns and protests have emerged among Iraqis criticizing what they described as the Iraqi government’s compliance with Trump. On Monday, hundreds of people gathered outside Najaf Airport to protest and stage a sit-in.
Users on X have also directed much of their criticism at the government of Faleh al-Zaydi, writing that it was unbecoming of a Shiite government to accept what they described as the authority of the United States and Trump.
Iraq’s Strategic Role in the Iran-U.S. Rivalry
WANA (Sep 29) – Baghdad’s joining of the U.S. campaign to impose an air blockade on Iran has sparked considerable debate and controversy in recent days. Although Baghdad’s move generated a great deal of noise, it was neither particularly unpredictable nor unexpected. In Iraq itself, Iran’s allies have also protested the decision and put […]