Iraq suspends Iranian flights as US tightens aviation sanctions

Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports have suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines in response to newly imposed US aviation sanctions targeting Iran. The suspensions mark a significant escalation in Washington's enforcement actions against Tehran's civil aviation operations.

The decision by Iraqi authorities to ground Iranian services comes as the United States continues to broaden restrictions on Iran's aviation sector, a key component of its broader sanctions architecture against the Islamic Republic. Iraqi airport authorities issued directives requiring all Iranian-flagged carriers and those operating under Iranian ownership to cease operations at the country's major commercial hubs.

The affected airports serve as critical transit points for regional air traffic and commercial activity. Najaf and Baghdad airports handle substantial passenger and cargo volumes, while Erbil and Sulaimaniyah serve the Kurdistan region. The suspension is expected to disrupt connectivity between Iraq and Iran, historically one of the region's busier air routes.

The timing of Iraq's compliance reflects the country's complex position between Washington and Tehran. As a major oil producer and strategic partner of both powers, Baghdad has increasingly aligned its aviation policies with US sanctions regimes while maintaining significant economic and political ties with Iran.

The restrictions add to existing international measures limiting Iran's aviation sector, which has faced decades of import restrictions on aircraft spare parts and financing challenges due to sanctions.