Baghdad Holds Talks with Washington to Exempt Some Iraqi Airports from Iranian Flight Ban

The Iraqi government announced on Saturday that it is holding direct talks with the U.S. administration to seek exemptions for some Iraqi airports from the ban on Iranian flights.

In a statement issued by the media office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, seen by the Iraqi Al-Wasat newspaper, the Iraqi move came after measures taken by the U.S. Treasury concerning flights by Iranian airlines to regional airports, including those in Iraq.

The government statement explained that the exemption request is intended to allow the resumption of flights for humanitarian reasons related to medical treatment, education, religious visits and the interests of civilians.

It stressed that "the continuation of crises increases the complexity of the situation," calling on all parties to engage in dialogue and negotiation to reach solutions that end the current crisis and conflicts and that serve the interests of the countries and peoples of the region.

The development comes amid sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury on September 8 against 36 entities linked to the Iranian aviation sector, including 27 airlines.

Travel, tourism and land-transport companies in Iraq expressed varied positions regarding the U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines, which entered into effect as of last Wednesday.