Iraqi government negotiates directly with U.S. to resume flights to Iran

Iraqi government requests suspension of flights within Iran

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim A-ram = Reuters reported on the 28th (local time) that the U.S. Donald Trump administration plans to approve a temporary suspension of sanctions against Iran for pilgrimage flights between Iran and Iraq.

According to sources cited by Reuters, the U.S. Treasury Department's moratorium on sanctions will allow Iraqi Airways to operate round-trip flights between Iraq's Shiite holy city of Najaf and Iran for a month. There is also a possibility that a permanent suspension of sanctions may follow in the future.

Iran has canceled all flights in the region in the aftermath of US sanctions against Iran, and the airport in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, has also suspended takeoffs and landings of Iranian flights since the 23rd.

Najaf Airport authorities also decided to suspend all flights to and from Iran until further notice.

Accordingly, the Iraqi government entered into direct negotiations with the United States to receive exceptions for the completely banned Iranian flight operations.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's Office announced on the 26th that it was discussing with the U.S. authorities to resume flights for humanitarian purposes, such as medical, educational, and religious pilgrimages, and to exclude some airports in the country from sanctions.

An Iraqi official told Reuters that the Iraqi government was discussing sanctions waivers with the United States and expected flights between Iran and Najaf to resume within 48 hours.

Najaf is considered one of the most sacred places for Shiite Islam, visited by millions of pilgrims every year, including Iranians.

Sources explained that this measure is intended to strengthen relations with the United States and reduce the burden on the Iraqi government, which has been trying to maintain a balanced relationship with neighboring Iran.

Banning flights between Iran and Najaf could rally Shiites to protest against the Iraqi government and undermine U.S. efforts to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq, the sources added.