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The Iraqi government announced on Saturday that it is in talks with the United States to obtain an exemption for some Iraqi airports from the ban on flights by Iranian airlines under American sanctions, as it has hindered the travel of patients, students, and pilgrims.
The media office of the Prime Minister's Office stated that the Iraqi government is conducting direct dialogue with the American side to exempt some Iraqi airports from these measures.
It explained that the exemption allows the resumption of flights for humanitarian reasons, related to treatment, study, religious visits, and the interests of civilians.
Iranian airlines originally transport Iranians coming to Iraq or Iraqis wishing to travel to Iran, whether for religious visits, those pursuing their studies in Iran, or those traveling for medical purposes.
Iraq joined several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, that suspended Iranian flights to and from their territories after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said all Iranian airlines would cease operations as of September 23.
Foreign companies providing assistance to the Iranian aviation sector were given until September 23 to comply, such as stopping the supply of jet fuel to Iranian planes, for example.
Non-compliance with the American ban exposes these companies to the risk of being blacklisted and thus isolated from the dollar financial system.
Iraqi airlines stopped operating flights to Iran at the beginning of the Middle East war in February.
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