An Iranian passenger carrying luggage leaves Najaf International Airport after her arrival on an AVA Airlines flight, in Najaf (Iraq), on Sep. 23, 2026. (Credit: Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters)
The Iraqi government said Saturday it is in talks with Washington to obtain an exemption from a U.S. ban on Iranian airlines that is disrupting the movement of patients, students and pilgrims between the two neighboring countries.
All Iraqi airports implemented this week the new sanctions imposed by the United States as part of its conflict with Tehran, including Najaf airport, which hosts one of the world’s most revered Shiite shrines and serves as a major hub for Iranian flights.
’’The Iraqi government is holding direct discussions with the American side to exempt certain airports from these measures,’’ the prime minister’s office said.
An exemption would allow flights to resume ‘‘for humanitarian reasons, including medical care, education, religious visits and in the interest of civilians,’’ it added.
Iranian airlines mainly transport Iraqi Shiite pilgrims to holy cities in Iran, as well as Iranians traveling to sacred sites in Iraq. The flights also serve Iraqis studying in Iran and patients traveling there for treatment.
Several Iraqis told AFP of the difficulties caused by the suspension of all Iranian flights at Najaf airport from Thursday night into Friday.
Some fear losing access to treatment in Iran, while others found themselves stranded there, with the only option being a journey of more than 12 hours by land to return home, since Iraqi airlines stopped serving Iran at the start of the Middle East conflict in February.
Taxis and buses to Iraq are already ‘‘packed and prices are rising,’’ doctoral student Assad Jabar, who was stranded in the Iranian holy city of Qom on Friday, told AFP by phone.
The United States imposed sanctions on Iran’s entire aviation sector in early September and vowed to take a hard line against foreign companies that provide assistance to the sector, threatening to blacklist them as well.
On Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the companies had until Wednesday to comply.
Relations between Iraq and its neighbor Iran, both predominantly Shiite countries, have long been close because of religious ties as well as political and economic interests.
