Iraq bars Iranian football team’s plane from landing in Basra: Report

Decision by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority reportedly related to ⁠US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines.Published On 10 Nov 202610 Nov 2026Iraq barred a plane carrying Iran’s national football ⁠team from ⁠landing at Basra airport on Tuesday, a decision by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority linked to ⁠sanctions by the United States imposed on Iranian airlines, two Basra airport officials told the Reuters news agency.The plane returned to Iran and landed ⁠at Abadan airport, and the team will now travel by road to Basra, an Iranian consulate official in Basra said.The Iranian team was travelling to Iraq to participate in a ‌four-nation tournament in Basra also involving Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.An Iraqi civil aviation official said Iraq made the decision because it could not risk violating US sanctions on Iranian airlines.The incident highlights the increasing impact of US sanctions on Iranian aviation operations in Iraq. ⁠Washington announced sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines after September 23, aiming to ground Iran’s entire civil fleet worldwide.In September, Iraq ordered the suspension of Iranian flights to Baghdad airport after the U...