Full Breakdown
U.S. Moves Toward Waiver for Pilgrimage Flights Between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Proposed Sanctions Waiver for Najaf Pilgrimage Flights
The Trump administration plans a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program that would permit Iraqi Airways to operate flights between Iran and Najaf for one month, with a possible longer-term exemption. The waiver is scheduled for Monday, September 28. It aims to ease pressure on Iraq’s government, which halted flights to Iran on September 22 after U.S. threats of secondary sanctions.
Background & Context
On September 23 the United States imposed secondary sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, targeting airlines, ground-handling firms and any non-U.S. carrier that uses U.S.-origin parts. The Treasury Department’s “operation economic outcast” seeks to isolate Iran’s fleet, estimated at roughly 150 aircraft, about half of which are operational. The sanctions have already prompted Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Azerbaijan, Georgia and several other states to cancel or suspend services to Iranian carriers.
Timeline
- September 22 – Iraq’s civil aviation authority suspends Iranian flights to Baghdad.
- September 23 – U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines take effect.
- September 24 – Turkmenistan denies an Iranian aircraft permission to cross its airspace, forcing the plane to return to Tehran.
- September 28 (scheduled) – U.S. Treasury Department expected to grant the one-month waiver for Najaf flights.
- September 25 – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi addresses the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing Iraq’s diplomatic push for humanitarian exemptions.
Data & Statistics
- The operational pool of Iranian aircraft numbers about 150, with roughly 50 % serviceable at any given time (Al Reza Salavati, Middle East Analytica).
- Flights to Najaf normally draw millions of Shi’ite pilgrims each year.
- Since the sanctions, at least six regional airports—including those in Turkey, the UAE and Oman—have halted Iranian airline services.
Official Statements & Responses
- Iraqi Government: The office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced that Iraq is seeking a U.S. exemption to allow flights for medical treatment, education and pilgrimage, and said talks with Washington could see flights resume within 48 hours.
- Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation: Chief Abuzar Shiroudi told IRNA that the International Civil Aviation Organization ruled in Iran’s favour on its protest against the U.S. aviation sanctions, and that Tehran has filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice.
- Iraqi Airways: The state-run carrier announced, via the Iraqi News Agency, that commercial flights between Najaf and Iranian airports have resumed.
On-the-Ground Reports
Travelers reported crowded border crossings as many turned to overland routes after air services were disrupted. One passenger, speaking anonymously to DW, described a “very crowded” border and the added costs of road transport, accommodation and extra flights.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Al Jazeera reports that flights between Najaf and Iran have already resumed, citing the Iraqi News Agency, while the Strait Times and the Jerusalem Post indicate that a waiver is still under deliberation and flights remain suspended pending the September 28 decision. No source provides a definitive timeline for a permanent exemption.
What’s Next
The Treasury Department’s waiver is slated for release on September 28. Iran’s ICAO protest and its ICJ filing remain pending, and Iraqi officials continue to negotiate a broader humanitarian exemption. The outcome will shape regional air connectivity and the balance of U.S. pressure on Iran’s aviation sector.