Iraqi Airways to resume Iran flights in October after securing US exemption

Iraqi Airways is preparing to resume flights to Iran in October, Iraq's transport ministry said Tuesday, after suspending flights amid US sanctions restricting services to Iranian airlines.

The ministry said Iraq had secured a special exemption allowing Iraqi Airways to operate services to Iran.

Iraq halted flights to and from Iran on Friday in line with US sanctions, and the government had sought exemptions for travel related to pilgrimage, medical treatment and education.

The transport ministry said services next month would initially operate from the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf once regulatory and technical requirements were completed.

A source in the Iraqi transport ministry said the US Treasury Department provided the exemption, and it would run for one month. The source said the number of allowed flights has not yet been determined.

More permanent exemption may follow temporary measure

The announcement follows Reuters reporting on Monday that the Trump administration was set to grant a one-month US Treasury waiver allowing Iraqi Airways to fly between Iran and Najaf, with a more permanent exemption potentially following.

Baghdad had offered safeguards including passenger screening and information sharing, as well as measures to prevent the flights from being used to transport weapons, sanctioned individuals, or illicit money, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.