Security officers stand guard whilst protesters gather outside al-Najaf al-Ashraf International Airport in Najaf on Sept. 28, 2026, calling for the airport to be reopened to flights from Iran. (Credit: Karrar Jabbar/AFP)
Iranian airlines excluding Mahan Air are allowed 40 daily flights to and from Iraq's Najaf international airport, the Iraqi prime minister's office said on Friday, following a suspension of flights due to US sanctions.
Iraq had halted flights to and from Iran last week, in line with crippling U.S. sanctions.
Reuters reported earlier this week that the U.S. was set to grant a one-month U.S. Treasury waiver to allow for flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq
The Iraqi government had sought exemptions for travel related to pilgrimage, medical treatment, and education
"The Prime Minister appreciates the positive response shown by the U.S. government to Iraqi efforts and its cooperation in granting the requested exemption," the statement said
The U.S. accuses Iranian carrier Mahan Air of transporting Iran's Revolutionary Guards personnel, as well as weapons and drones.
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