Iranian flights return to Najaf after Iraq secures US sanctions waiver
Key Takeaways
- A Caspian Airlines flight carrying 150 passengers arrived in Najaf from Tehran.
- Iraq secured an exemption allowing Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, to operate in Najaf.
- The agreement allows Iranian carriers to operate up to 40 flights daily to and from Najaf.
A Caspian Airlines flight carrying 150 passengers landed from Tehran as Iranian carriers resumed services to Najaf following an exemption from US restrictions.
Iranian commercial flights have resumed operations to Najaf after Iraq secured an exemption from US sanctions affecting Iran's aviation sector.
A Caspian Airlines flight carrying 150 passengers from Tehran arrived at Najaf Airport on Sunday, marking the return of Iranian air services.
Passengers were seen completing entry procedures inside the terminal after the aircraft landed.
“I had been waiting there for 23 days, and thank God an Iranian flight finally arrived in Najaf. We received a warm welcome from our Iraqi brothers," passenger Hadi Hassan Al-Ebrahimi said.
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“The distance between Mashhad and Najaf is about 2,000 kilometres, which is exhausting for me. So we waited for flights to resume, and we thank Najaf Airport for its efforts," he added.
Najaf Airport Deputy Director Hussein Muhanna said the resumption followed efforts by the Iraqi government.
He said flights between Iran and Iraq had resumed "after extraordinary efforts by the Iraqi government, as well as public support for the return of Iranian air travel.”
Under the agreement, Iranian airlines will be allowed to operate up to 40 flights a day to and from Najaf. Muhanna said the airport was preparing a technical and administrative plan to handle the traffic.
The United States imposed sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector in September. The measures led ground-handling companies and airports to stop providing services to Iranian carriers over concerns about breaching US restrictions.
Iraq later secured an exemption allowing Iranian airlines to operate flights to and from Najaf. Mahan Air is excluded from the exemption.
Several countries and companies stopped dealing with Iranian airlines following the US measures, while others continued operations with them.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
