US grants Iraq Airways limited waiver for Iran-Najaf flights

The United States has issued a limited sanctions waiver allowing Iraqi Airways to establish air service between Iran and Najaf, offering relief to pilgrims and travelers amid the broader American embargo on Tehran.

The authorization permits the Iraqi carrier to operate flights on the route for an initial period of one month, according to officials familiar with the decision. The move marks a significant exception to Washington's comprehensive sanctions regime against Iran, which has severely restricted commercial aviation links between the Islamic Republic and neighboring countries.

Najaf, located in southern Iraq, is one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam and attracts millions of religious pilgrims annually from Iran and across the region. The flight waiver is expected to facilitate easier access for Iranian visitors seeking to undertake religious journeys, addressing longstanding travel challenges created by the sanctions.

While the current exemption is time-limited, officials have indicated that the arrangement could potentially be extended or formalized into a permanent exemption depending on developments over the coming weeks. The decision reflects pragmatic considerations regarding humanitarian and religious travel between the two neighboring nations.

The waiver represents one of the few carve-outs the United States has granted within its sanctions framework against Iran, underscoring the particular significance of religious pilgrimage corridors in the Middle East.