US Grants One-Month Waiver for Iran-Najaf Flights, Iraqi Sources Say

Iraqi sources say the US Treasury has granted a one-month waiver for flights between Iran and Najaf, a move that could pave the way for the resumption of services. According to the sources, there is also a possibility of approval for a longer waiver.

Iraqi Airways announced late on Monday that it would resume flights to airports in Iran via Najaf airport. A knowledgeable source involved in the talks said the waiver allows Iraqi Airways to operate flights to and from Najaf for one month.

Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahraa Hajaj, had previously said that Najaf airport would accept Iranian flights within 24 hours after the announcement of its closure. He said the Iraqi government, particularly Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, was working to restart flights between the two countries.

According to the Iraqi ambassador, the government has made no decision to suspend flights with Iran, and foreign ground service companies have refused to provide services due to concerns over US sanctions.

The report comes as the US has imposed sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines. In recent days, flights from Iran to a number of regional countries, including Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, have faced restrictions or cancellations, sparking protests from the public and political groups in Iraq.