Iraq seeks exemption from U.S. ban on Iranian flights

(Central News Agency, Baghdad, comprehensive foreign news report on the 26th) After the United States announced a ban on Iranian airlines, the Iraqi government said today that it is currently negotiating with the United States to seek exemptions. The U.S. airline ban on Iran has affected travel by patients, students and pilgrims.

Agence France-Presse reported that all airports in Iraq began enforcing the US ban this week, causing major chaos at the airport in the holy city of Najaf. Nagaf is the main destination for Iranian flights to Iraq.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office said: "The Iraqi government is in direct negotiations with the United States and hopes that some Iraqi airports can be exempted."

The Prime Minister's Press Office also said that the exemption would allow "the resumption of flights on humanitarian grounds, including medical, educational, religious visits and needs in the interests of civilians."

Iranian airlines mainly carry Iraqi Shia pilgrims to Iran's holy cities, or Iranians visiting holy sites in Iraq. These flights also serve Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients seeking medical treatment there.

Multiple Iraqis told AFP that the implementation of the US ban has made them eager to find alternatives. Some are worried about losing access to treatment in Iran. Others are stranded in Iran and have no choice but to embark on a land journey home that takes more than 12 hours.

After US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Iranian airlines would be "shut down" on the 23rd, Iraq joined many countries, including the United Arab Emirates, in enforcing the US ban.

Iraq and neighboring Iran are both Shia-majority countries. The two countries have long had close relations based on religious relations as well as political and economic interests.