Iraq seeks US exemption from ban on Iranian flights

What the report says

Iraq is holding direct talks with Washington in an effort to win exemptions from new US measures affecting Iranian airline traffic, according to Al Jazeera. The request comes after four Iraqi airports suspended flights to and from Iran following Washington’s latest aviation sanctions, which target companies doing business with Iranian airlines. Baghdad says it wants some flights restored for humanitarian reasons, including medical travel, education, religious visits and civilian needs.

The disruption has affected airports in Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, forcing some travelers onto long land journeys. The suspension is especially sensitive in Najaf, a major destination for Iraqi and Iranian Shia pilgrims. Al Jazeera reported that the Iraqi prime minister’s office called for dialogue to reduce regional tensions and warned that continued crises would deepen the situation.

Public reaction in Iraq has included demonstrations in Baghdad organized by Iran-linked militias, as well as a vigil by scholars and students from the Hawza of Najaf, which urged the government to protect Iraqi decision-making. Iraqi and Iranian officials have both said the flight halt is temporary and that contacts are continuing to restore normal air links. More broadly, the dispute highlights Iraq’s effort to balance relations with both the United States and Iran while avoiding further economic and political strain.