Passenger flights between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf have resumed since the U.S. gave Baghdad permission for an exception to its sanctions against Iran. The temporary exception allows Iranian commercial airlines, which have been sanctioned, to resume their flights to the pilgrimage city. Iran Najaf Flights
The flight of Caspian Airlines from Tehran arrived at Najaf International Airport at 5:15 pm local time, signaling the resumption of passenger traffic after weeks of suspended service. Officials said that the connection between the two countries has been officially restored via the transit point in southern Iraq.
As per the deal reached between Washington and Iraqi officials, approved Iranian airlines are allowed to fly 40 round trips daily into Najaf. Mahan Air remains specifically excluded from the temporary waiver and continues to face a strict ban. Furthermore, Iraq’s national flag carrier, Iraqi Airways, secured permission to initiate scheduled routes to Iranian cities, with operations expected to launch later this month.
The diplomatic breakthrough resolves significant travel disruption caused when Baghdad strictly enforced American economic measures last month. The sudden suspension stranded thousands of passengers and paralyzed key travel routes between the neighboring states.
Regional aviation analysts note that flight connectivity between the two neighboring nations remains vital for maintaining essential economic and societal ties. The temporary suspension had forced travel agencies and tour operators to cancel thousands of bookings, causing significant financial losses across the local hospitality sector in Najaf and putting added strain on land border crossings.
Najaf serves as a critical travel nexus, heavily reliant on cross-border aviation links. The commercial routes primarily accommodate regional Shia pilgrims visiting holy sanctuaries, alongside university students attending Iranian educational institutions and medical patients seeking health services abroad.
Washington’s economic sanctions against Iranian aviation remain part of a broader policy designed to restrict Tehran’s financial networks amid lingering geopolitical tensions. MENA News Agency
