Iraq’s Najaf receive first Iranian plane after US exemption

An Iran Air Boeing aircraft parked at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, Iran. Photo: AFP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Najaf International Airport in Iraq received the first Iranian flight from Tehran on Sunday, carrying over 150 passengers, marking the resumption of air travel between the two countries. The Iraqi airport received the first flight arriving from Tehran operated by Iran’s Caspian Airlines with more than 150 passengers on board after a suspension that lasted over nine days. The management of Najaf International Airport announced on Saturday that flights with Iran would resume on Sunday, with three evening flights scheduled, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). On Friday, Iraq announced that it had secured a sanctions waiver from Washington allowing Iranian airlines to operate dozens of daily flights to and from Najaf International Airport, with a similar exemption granted to Iraqi Airways. Last week, all Iraqi airports began complying with the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran’s entire aviation sector, causing significant disruptions at Najaf International Airport. The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement on Friday that an agreement had been reached allowing Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, to operate 40 daily flights to and from Najaf International Airport. The agreement follows efforts to facilitate the movement of travelers and visitors entering or leaving Iraq. It also aims to support humanitarian, medical, tourism, and educational initiatives.