New US Sanctions on Iranian Aviation Sector Take Effect

The Tasnim and ISNA agencies quoted the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority as saying that Baghdad and Muscat airports will no longer "receive" Iranian flights starting from midnight.

However, Tasnim reported on Tuesday evening that other international flights, "including those bound for Istanbul, are still scheduled as usual and currently face no difficulties".

The aviation authority's spokesperson told the agencies that negotiations are underway "to divert flights bound for Baghdad to Najaf Airport".

According to ISNA, similar negotiations are taking place with Oman.

Although the Iraqi government has not officially announced its measures under the US sanctions, several sources, including a senior government official, confirmed to AFP that Baghdad will adhere to the US restrictions.

Iraq is a key destination for Iranian airlines, which mainly transport Iranian visitors to the holy Shiite shrines in Iraq and Iraqi visitors in the opposite direction.

Officials at Iraqi travel agencies said they are considering organizing land trips to compensate for the air ones, especially since Iraqi airlines no longer operate flights to the Islamic Republic since the start of the Middle East war in late February.

Haidar Al-Shamaa from a travel agency in Najaf City said that "most of the work of travel and tourism companies operating in Najaf is booking flights for passengers traveling through Najaf Airport to various Iranian airports".

The US government placed the Iranian aviation sector on its blacklist earlier this month, threatening to impose sanctions on any entity that deals with Iranian airlines.

The US Treasury Secretary said in an interview with CNBC that Iranian airlines will cease operations on Wednesday, September 23, adding that "if these planes land, no one will be able to refuel them or provide landing services to them or sell their tickets, otherwise they will be excluded from the dollar system".

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran Air, the national airline of Iran, announced that it had not been informed by neighboring countries of any ban on flights to it.

There are 27 airlines in Iran, most of which provide domestic flights. Iran Air and the private Mahan Air are the most prominent in terms of international flights, especially to neighboring countries, as well as Russia and China.

Since Monday, Georgia has banned all Iranian flights to and from its territory, while Mahan announced the suspension of its flights to Turkey at the request of Ankara.

The new restrictions are expected to increase the chances of Iranians traveling abroad or returning to their country.

Iran closed its airspace entirely after the start of the US-Israeli war against it in late February. With the decline in hostilities, air traffic has partially resumed, but only Iranian companies provide international flights.