Iran announces resumption of flights with Iraq via Najaf Airport starting Sunday

The spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, Majid Akhavan, announced on Saturday evening the resumption of flights between Iran and Iraq via Najaf Airport starting Sunday. He said the decision follows measures taken at the level of senior officials in both countries and that Iranian and Iraqi airlines will resume operating flights between the two countries.

Akhavan urged travelers to check for updates on their flights and their departure times before heading to the airports.

The Iranian embassy in Baghdad expressed its gratitude to Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi for his support and follow-up in launching 40 daily flights for Iranian airlines between the two countries via Najaf International Airport.

This comes as the Iraqi government announced on Friday that an agreement had been reached to operate 40 daily flights to and from Najaf International Airport for Iranian airlines, excluding Mahan Air.

Iraqi Airways announced last week that it would resume its flights to Iranian airports via Najaf International Airport.

The Iraqi government had previously issued a decision banning flights from Iraqi airports to Iran or the reception of Iranian flights in response to sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury on September 8 against 36 entities linked to the Iranian aviation sector, including 27 airlines.

On September 29, the U.S. Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), issued a special license to Iraqi Airways allowing it to conduct the usual and necessary transactions to operate passenger services between Iraq and Iran via Najaf Airport under specified terms and restrictions.