Overview
- The Iraqi government is negotiating directly with U.S. officials for targeted exemptions to allow flights for medical treatment, education, religious visits and civilian travel.
- U.S. Treasury aviation sanctions expanded in September threatened secondary penalties on airports and service firms that handle designated Iranian carriers and pressured many regional hubs to comply.
- All four major Iraqi airports suspended flights to and from Iran on Friday, forcing thousands of travelers onto 12-hour overland journeys and driving up taxi and bus fares.
- Hardline domestic actors have staged protests and threatened sit‑ins at airports, intensifying political pressure on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as Baghdad talks with Tehran to restore connections.
- The U.S. measures work by cutting access to dollar clearing and U.S. financial networks for fuel suppliers, ground handlers and insurers, creating uneven regional compliance and risks of further diplomatic strain.