US Grants Limited Waiver for Iran-Iraq Pilgrimage Flights
The US Treasury Department is granting a one-month waiver to allow Iraqi Airways flights between Iran and Najaf to facilitate Shi'ite religious pilgrimages.
The United States Department of the Treasury is granting a one-month limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program, allowing Iraqi Airways to resume flights between Iran and the holy city of Najaf. The move follows a period of severe disruption after the U.S. sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines in early September, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating the goal was the "economic asphyxiation" of the Islamic republic. These sanctions led the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Turkey to cancel direct flights with Iran, while foreign ground-handling companies in Iraq ceased services on September 26 due to fears of secondary penalties.
In response to the pressure, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi suspended flights to and from Iran on September 22 to comply with U.S. demands. However, Baghdad subsequently negotiated for humanitarian exemptions to support students, patients, and religious pilgrims. To secure the waiver, Prime Minister al-Zaidi proposed rigorous passenger screening and information sharing to prevent the transport of weapons or sanctioned individuals.
Iranian officials have reacted with hostility to the aviation blockade. Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei threatened attacks on airports of neighboring countries that cooperate with the U.S., while lead adviser Mohammad Mokhber warned that regional airport access would be compromised if Iran is denied flight possibilities. While China has rejected the sanctions as "illegal and unilateral," Iran has lodged formal complaints with the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
