Al-Nujaba Threaten Sit-in at Iraqi Airports If Flight Ban with Iran Remains

Akram al-Kaabi, secretary-general of Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the most prominent Shiite armed factions in Iraq, threatened on Friday evening to stage sit-ins at Iraqi airports until the US decision banning Iranian flights is broken.

Al-Kaabi said in a statement seen by the Iraqi newspaper al-Wasat that "talking about sovereignty at a time when Iraq has been made into a small village controlled by the Americans is a double standard, and this cannot be accepted; therefore we reproach the political forces in all their sections and details for these regrettable positions."

He added, threatening: "We will not wait long. If the matter is not resolved and we do not break free from American hegemony and restore smooth flights with Iran, then we call to prepare for sit-ins at Iraqi airports until the American decision is broken."

Earlier in the day, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced that he had informed the Iranian side about the flight ban imposed on Iranian airlines, which came into effect last Wednesday, indicating Baghdad's intent to discuss these sanctions with the US side to provide services to Iranian aviation.

The US Treasury announced on 8 September that it had imposed strict sanctions and restrictions on 36 entities linked to Iran's aviation sector, including 27 airlines, and threatened to impose sanctions on any entity that deals with them.