Najaf Airport Halts Iranian Flights as Iraq Enforces US Sanctions

Iraq’s Najaf airport has halted all flights operated by Iranian airlines, with the airport director saying the decision was made following a directive from the Iraqi prime minister’s office.

The suspension at the airport, located in the Shia holy city south of Baghdad, brings Iraq in line with US sanctions targeting Iranian airlines.

Hussein Muhanna, director of Najaf airport, confirmed the move to AFP on Friday.

“All flights were halted between Iran and Najaf airport following a directive from the prime minister’s office to the governor” of Najaf, he said.

Najaf is one of the main destinations for Iranian flights because of its importance to Shia Muslims. Iranian carriers transport pilgrims and other travellers between the two countries, including Iraqi Shia Muslims visiting holy cities in Iran and Iranians travelling to sacred religious sites in Iraq.

The flights also provide transport for Iraqi students enrolled in Iranian institutions and patients travelling to Iran for medical care.

Iraq and Iran have close ties, influenced by their shared Shia Muslim majority as well as longstanding political links.

According to Muhanna, the suspension came into effect at 2:00 am (2300 GMT Thursday).

Earlier this week, several sources, including a senior Iraqi government official, told AFP that Baghdad would enforce the US restrictions on Iranian airlines. Iraq is joining several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, in implementing the ban.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that Iranian airlines would “shut down.”

While land crossings between Iraq and Iran remain available, Iraq is a major market for Iranian airlines. The route has become particularly important since Iraqi carriers stopped operating flights to Iran at the start of the Middle East war in February.

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