Full Breakdown
Iraq Secures U.S. Waiver to Permit 40 Daily Iranian Flights at Najaf Airport
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development
On October 2 2026, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced an agreement that allows Iranian airlines—excluding Mahan Air—to operate up to 40 flights per day to and from Najaf International Airport. The arrangement follows a week-long suspension of Iranian-Iraqi air services that was triggered by U.S. secondary sanctions imposed on airlines linked to Iran’s civil aviation sector.
Background and Context
The United States escalated pressure on Iran’s aviation industry with a September 23 2026 ban that targets any company conducting business with Iranian carriers. Earlier, on September 8 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and warned that airports, fuel suppliers, and ground-handling firms could face secondary sanctions for providing services. In response, Iraqi ground-handling companies halted operations on routes to Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, prompting the government to suspend all flights to and from Iran in line with U.S. sanctions.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the measures as “illegal and inhumane” and urged Baghdad to lift the curbs, describing them as “economic terrorism” that harms pilgrims, patients, students and commercial actors. Domestic protests erupted in Najaf, Nasiriya, Karbala and Amarah, reflecting popular discontent with the travel disruption.
Data and Statistics
- 40 daily flights authorized for Iranian carriers at Najaf, Mahan Air excluded due to U.S. accusations of transporting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel, weapons and drones.
- Flights to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport have fallen 42 % since the September 23 ban, according to FlightRadar24.
- The busiest route, Najaf-Turkey, has declined 19 %, while routes to Georgia, Oman and Azerbaijan have been halted entirely.
These figures illustrate the broader contraction of Iran’s international air links after the sanctions took effect.
Official Statements & Responses
- The **U.S.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Iraqi aviation has received an exemption but with conditions to operate flights between Najaf and Iran.” — Moreover, a source at Najaf Airport
- “The airport was notified yesterday about the resumption of Iraqi Airways flights to Iran, but there are no flight schedules yet.” — Najaf Airport, the Iraqi prime minister's office
What’s Next
The U.S. waiver is limited to a specific period and subject to strict conditions, including restrictions on passenger categories, cargo, cash transfers and detailed reporting requirements. Iraqi authorities are preparing to launch Iraqi Airways flights to Iran in October, pending completion of regulatory steps and schedule finalization. The exemption does not lift the broader sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, and U.S. officials retain the right to amend or cancel the permission if compliance controls are breached.