Iraqi airports halt Iranian flights after new US aviation sanctions

What Happened

Four Iraqi airports — Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah — suspended all flights to and from Iran, according to Iraqi state media. The suspensions came days after the United States announced new aviation sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines, part of the US 'Operation Economic Outcast' launched in August to isolate Iran from the global economy. Najaf International Airport director Hussein Muhanna told AFP that 'all flights were halted between Iran and Najaf airport following a directive from the prime minister’s office to the governor' of Najaf. An Iraqi employee of an Iranian airline at Najaf airport told AFP that Iranian carriers normally operate at least 20 daily flights, but after the suspension only four flights to other destinations remained scheduled on Friday. Passengers travelling between Iran and Iraq will now be forced to make a land journey of at least 12 hours, depending on destination.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The suspensions show Iraq caught between US secondary sanctions and its political, religious and economic ties to Iran. Ground-service companies risk losing access to the US dollar system if they refuel or service Iranian carriers, pushing Iraq toward compliance without a public central government statement that could provoke pro-Iranian parliamentary factions. The flight ban cuts a major air corridor used by Shia pilgrims travelling between Iraq and Iran, and further shrinks Iran’s aviation network, which Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglu reported is now reliant on reduced routes through Turkiye, Russia, China and Armenia.

Watch For

Monitor whether Iraq’s central government issues a formal statement or extends the suspension to other airports; whether Iran follows through on threats against countries enforcing US aviation sanctions; and whether UAE and Qatar expand their restrictions. Watch for increased overland travel at border crossings, changes to Iran’s remaining air routes through Turkiye, Russia, China and Armenia, and any Iraqi parliamentary responses from pro-Iranian factions. Also track further US enforcement actions under Operation Economic Outcast and new sanctions designations against ground-service or refuelling companies in Iraq or elsewhere.