Story perspectives

Iraq Suspends Iran Flights as U.S. Sanctions Loom

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 10:40 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Iraq Suspends Flights

Iraq suspended all flights to and from Iran at Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned firms aiding Iranian airlines of secondary sanctions.
Sanctions cover 27 Iranian airlines and 36 aviation entities, effective September 23, 2026.
Iraq began talks with the United States to obtain humanitarian-flight exemptions.

Summary

Mahan Air Defies Sanctions

Iranian international air capacity fell 49% year-over-year in August before the latest sanctions took effect.
Thousands of travelers turned to land crossings in Turkey and Armenia to reach onward international flights.
Mahan Air flew from Tehran to Guangzhou, China after the September 23 deadline.
Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus cancelled routes to Iran.
China and Russia publicly opposed the U.S. sanctions and maintained aviation links with Iran.

History

Historical Context

Since the 1979 revolution, the United States has layered sector-based sanctions on Iran, beginning with the 2010 Executive Order 13553 that froze $2 billion and barred 27 airlines. In August 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched Operation Economic Outcast, expanding secondary sanctions to aviation; on 23 September 2026 the U.S. ordered Iraq to suspend flights at Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, forcing Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Chinese carriers to reroute.

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Iraq Suspends Flights

Iraq suspended all flights to and from Iran at Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned firms aiding Iranian airlines of secondary sanctions.
Sanctions cover 27 Iranian airlines and 36 aviation entities, effective September 23, 2026.
Iraq began talks with the United States to obtain humanitarian-flight exemptions.

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