Exception granted for Iranian flight carrying Iraqis (VIP) to Baghdad despite suspension
An exception was granted for an Iranian private flight carrying Iraqis to land in Baghdad despite the suspension of flights between Iraq and Iran.
A well-informed source said on Sunday that a private Iranian flight carrying Iraqis received an exceptional approval to land at Baghdad International Airport and receive the necessary services, despite the suspension of flights between Iraq and Iran.
Flight data seen by the Iraqi Al-Wasat newspaper show the Iranian plane's route was from Mehrabad Airport in Tehran to Baghdad, and that it was classified as a private 'VIP' flight with six passengers on board.
The data set its takeoff time at 04:30 a.m., with an expected crossing of the 'RAGET' point at 05:00.
The source said Iraqi aircraft were withdrawn from Iran following the suspension of flights.
Baghdad airport had stopped receiving Iranian flights since September 23, while Najaf airport the following day received 15 flights that had been pre-booked, before flights with Iran ceased at Iraqi airports as of September 25.
The crisis stems from sanctions the U.S. Treasury Department announced on September 8, which targeted 36 entities linked to Iran's aviation sector, including 27 airlines, as well as companies and intermediaries providing services to that sector.
The department said its measures target what it described as the use of Iranian aviation to transport weapons, personnel and illicit cargo, and warned foreign parties about the consequences of supporting airlines included in the sanctions.
The measures affected flight operations in Iraq, as a source in the Transport Ministry told Al-Wasat newspaper that handling and ground services companies stopped servicing Iranian flights for fear of being exposed to sanctions.
A government source told Al-Wasat today, Sunday, that the U.S. had warned that receiving aircraft of Iranian companies subject to the sanctions, or providing them with landing, handling and refueling services, could expose airports and the entities operating them to sanctions.
He said Baghdad is discussing with Washington to obtain exemptions for flights with humanitarian and civilian purposes, without announcing that it has obtained them so far.
