Iraqi airports halt Iranian flights after new US aviation sanctions

Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah airports suspend flights as US ramps up pressure on Iran’s aviation sector.Published On 25 Sep 202625 Sep 2026Four Iraqi airports have suspended all flights to and from Iran days after the United States announced new aviation sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines.It is the latest ramping up of sanctions since the US launched Operation Economic Outcast in August in an effort to isolate Iran from the global economy.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran threatens countries enforcing US airline sanctionslist 2 of 3US aviation sanctions disrupt Iran flights, push travellers overlandlist 3 of 3Why is Iran threatening regional airports, and what could be the impact?end of listIraqi state media said flights will no longer be operating from Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports.Iraq was one of the top destinations for Iranian airlines, especially after Iraqi airlines stopped flying to Iran at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran in February.Passengers travelling between Iran and Iraq will now be forced to make a land journey of at least 12 hours, depending on the destination.Najaf airportIraq’s...