The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization officially confirmed the full restoration of air travel connections with Iraq. President Abuzar Shiroudi stated that airlines from both countries will resume regular passenger services immediately. High-level government officials negotiated the bilateral agreement to restore air transport operations efficiently. This development ends a brief complete suspension of routine commercial flight operations.
The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office approved 40 daily round-trip flights directly to Najaf International Airport. Designated Iranian air carriers now have official authorization to resume their scheduled regional flights. However, Mahan Air remains excluded from the agreement due to active sanctions restrictions. Previous external political pressure had effectively halted standard commercial flights across major regional air corridors.
Iraqi authorities recently suspended all incoming Iranian flights to several major airports across the country. The temporary flight ban affected major destinations, including Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah airports. The U.S. government subsequently issued a temporary sanctions waiver covering selected travel to Najaf. This policy exemption enabled high-level aviation officials to negotiate the current agreement.
Baghdad has implemented comprehensive security protocols to monitor incoming passengers and cargo traffic at airports. Transport authorities are establishing strict inspection checkpoints to prevent illegal money transfers and the entry of sanctioned individuals. Security teams will also conduct mandatory screening procedures to prevent unauthorized weapons transfers. These joint security measures will support regional stability and future commercial travel operations.