- Affected country
- Iraq
- Location / route
- Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf International Airport
- Official source
- Gemini News Search — Middle East Travel Alerts
- Published by source
- September 29, 2026 8:00 PM CST
- Effective period
- September 28, 2026 12:00 AM CST
- Last verified
- September 30, 2026 3:14 AM CST
- Status
- Updated
Official guidance
Iraqi Airways scheduled operations between Najaf and Iran are set to resume in October following a sanctions waiver.
Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.
- Issuing authority
- US Department of the Treasury
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Publication date
- September 28, 2026
- Effective date
- September 28, 2026
- Stage
- Final rule
- Official source
- arab.news
Update — September 30, 2026 3:14 AM CST: Iraqi Airways announced it will resume scheduled flights between Najaf and Iranian cities in October following an emergency US sanctions waiver. Services had previously been halted after private ground-handling operators refused to handle Iranian flights to avoid US financial penalties.
Update — September 30, 2026 3:14 AM CST: The United States has granted Iraqi airlines a conditional sanctions waiver to operate flights between Najaf and Iran for pilgrims and travelers. Najaf International Airport received notification of the decision following Iraqi government talks with Washington. Iraq had previously joined regional countries, including the United Arab Emirates, in restricting air links following US Treasury warnings.
Update — September 30, 2026 3:13 AM CST: Iraqi Airways announced it will resume scheduled flights to Iran in October following an emergency sanctions waiver granted by the US Treasury. The waiver specifically permits flights between Najaf International Airport and Iranian cities after ground-handling suspensions disrupted services.
The United States has granted Iraqi carriers a conditional sanctions waiver permitting them to fly Iranian pilgrims into and out of the holy city of Najaf, Iraqi government and airport officials told AFP. Najaf International Airport was informed of the waiver following direct talks between the Iraqi government and Washington.
Iraq had previously joined several regional countries, including the United Arab Emirates, in complying with US measures restricting air links to Iranian carriers. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iranian airlines would be shut down under strict sanctions targeting Iranian aviation and banking networks.
While Najaf airport authorities confirmed receipt of the authorization allowing Iraqi airlines to fly to Iran, an airport source stated that operational flight schedules have not yet been released. Security personnel maintained guard at Najaf International Airport following demonstrations by travelers demanding the air corridor be reopened.
The air corridor between Iraq and Iran is heavily utilized by hundreds of thousands of travelers each year, primarily Iraqi and Iranian Shia pilgrims, theology students, and medical travelers traveling between the two nations.
Revision history
- Updated Official update applied: Iraqi Airways announced it will resume scheduled flights between Najaf and Iranian cities in October following an emergency…
- Updated Official update applied: The United States has granted Iraqi airlines a conditional sanctions waiver to operate flights between Najaf and Iran…
- Updated Official update applied: Iraqi Airways announced it will resume scheduled flights to Iran in October following an emergency sanctions waiver granted…
- Active Published automatically from the official source
Sources
- Arab News · 2026-09-29
