EXCLUSIVE: US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, source says

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   US grants sanctions waiver for Iran-Iraq Najaf flights

   The US has granted a limited sanctions waiver to allow flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, reportedly for Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims. This waiver, confirmed by Reuters, permits Iraqi Airways to operate flights between Iran and Najaf for one month. The decision comes after US sanctions shut down Iranian flights, causing travel disruptions and straining regional ties.

   Why it matters

   The US sanctions on Iran's aviation industry have been in place since 2020, significantly impacting Iran's connectivity to the rest of the world. These sanctions have led to the cancellation of flights by various countries and have raised costs for travelers. The waiver for flights to Najaf indicates a temporary relaxation of these sanctions for humanitarian or religious purposes.

   What is confirmed

   • US President Donald Trump's administration granted a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program.
   • The waiver allows flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq's Najaf.
   • The waiver permits Iraqi Airways to fly back and forth between Iran and Najaf for one month.
   • US sanctions on Iran's aviation industry have caused travel disruptions and straining regional ties.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A more permanent waiver for Iran-Iraq flights may potentially follow the initial one-month waiver.

   What to watch next

   • The duration and scope of the sanctions waiver
   • Potential responses from Iran and other countries affected by US sanctions
   • The impact on Iran's aviation industry and regional relations
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. detroitnews.com — New US sanctions shut down Iranian flights
   2. Ynetnews — ‘If we can’t fly, no one can’: Iran threatens neighbors over US aviation sanctions
   3. WSJ — Exclusive | A U.S. Arm-Twisting Campaign Is Cutting Iran Off From the Rest of the World
   4. Reuters — EXCLUSIVE: US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, source says
   5. Al Jazeera — Flights between Iraq’s Najaf and Iran resumed as Tehran protests US curbs
   6. Iran International — Iran’s shrinking air links raise costs, strain regional ties
   7. The Jerusalem Post — Donald Trump administration weighs limited sanctions waiver for Iran-Iraq flights
   8. dw.com — US sanctions on Iran's aviation industry make travel less predictable as countries cancel flights
   9. Arab News — What we know about US sanctions on Iranian aviation
   10. Le Monde.fr — Iranians increasingly isolated after US sanctions on the country’s airlines
   11. Reuters — Iraqi Airways to resume Iran flights in October after securing 'special exemption'
   12. Bloomberg — Iran Flights to UAE Halted as US Sanctions Bite Connectivity
   confidence 93%