Iraq resumes flights to Iran in October after obtaining an American exception

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Tuesday that Iraqi Airlines is preparing to resume its flights to Iran in October, following their suspension in light of US sanctions that impose restrictions on services provided to Iranian airlines.

The ministry explained that Iraq obtained a special exception allowing Iraqi Airlines to operate flights to Iran.

On Friday, Iraq suspended flights to and from Iran in line with US sanctions, and the government sought exceptions for travel related to religious visits, medical treatment and education.

The Ministry of Transport said that flights next month will initially depart from “Najaf International Airport after completing the necessary regulatory requirements.”

A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that the US Treasury Department granted the exemption and it will continue for a month. The source added that the number of permitted flights has not yet been determined.

An informed source told Reuters that Baghdad has provided guarantees that include screening travelers and exchanging information, in addition to measures that prevent flights from being used to transport weapons, people subject to sanctions, or illicit money.

Moscow does not want Iran to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia does not want Tehran to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Peskov's statement came in response to statements by Iranian officials regarding the possibility of Tehran withdrawing from the treaty, which obligates its members not to develop or possess nuclear weapons, according to what Reuters reported.

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This comes at a time when Abbas Araghchi left the United States, at dawn on Tuesday, returning to Tehran after extensive meetings and consultations he held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, according to what the Iranian “IRNA” news agency reported.

Before leaving New York, Araqchi met with the Qatari mediator as part of the talks aimed at ending the current conflict between the United States and Iran.

Araqchi expressed his hope to receive Washington's final response through Doha, on Tuesday, in light of new efforts to end the war, explaining that the Qatari and Pakistani mediation channels had acquired a more serious character after Iran presented its plan.

He said on Monday evening that Iran had discussed with Qatari mediators ideas that would be presented to the United States.

President Donald Trump had previously announced his rejection of the new plan proposed by Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York, but Tehran announced that it was still waiting for an official response from the United States through mediators.

In conjunction with diplomatic efforts, since Monday, Iranian political and military officials have issued a series of statements that included new threats of a harsh response against the United States and the countries of the region.

The Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, stated in the parliament session on Tuesday, saying: “America and other countries must know, as we said previously, that in the region where we do not sell our oil, no one will sell their oil, and if our security is not achieved, no infrastructure will be safe.”

This is the second threat to oil and infrastructure security in the region - in what is understood to be directed against the Arab countries that Iran accuses of contributing to the war against it - after the statement of Iranian Army Commander Amir Hatami on Sunday.