Iranian airlines have resumed flights to Iraq’s Najaf International Airport after Baghdad secured a new arrangement allowing eligible Iranian carriers to resume services, restoring a key air link used by religious pilgrims, medical travelers and other passengers between the two neighboring countries.
The first post-suspension Iranian flight arrived in Najaf on Sunday, October 4, operated by Caspian Airlines from Tehran. According to Iraqi reports and the airport administration, the aircraft carried more than 150 passengers and received a traditional water-cannon salute upon arrival.
October 4
First Flight From Tehran
Up to 40
Daily Flights Permitted
~5 Million
Iranian Pilgrims to Iraq Each Year
October 8
Iraqi Airways to Resume Iran Routes
From Suspension to Resumption
Sept – Oct- Sept 8The US Treasury announces sanctions against 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 Iranian airlines.
- Sept 23Iranian airlines stop operating flights to Iraq amid the impact of new US sanctions.
- Sept 25Najaf International Airport suspends incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran.
- Oct 1US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meets Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Washington.
- Oct 2Iraq announces a new arrangement allowing eligible Iranian airlines, excluding Mahan Air, to operate up to 40 flights a day to and from Najaf.
- Oct 4The first post-suspension Iranian flight, operated by Caspian Airlines from Tehran, lands in Najaf with more than 150 passengers.
- Oct 8Iraqi Airways is scheduled to resume daily flights from Najaf to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
US Sanctions Had Disrupted Iran-Iraq Air Travel
On September 8, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 Iranian airlines. Washington said the measures were aimed at restricting networks that support the movement of weapons, personnel and illicit cargo on behalf of Iran.
Knock-On Effect for Service Providers
The sanctions increased the risk for ground-handling companies and other aviation service providers working with Iranian carriers. The disruption affected Iranian air services across parts of the region, including flights to Iraq.
Najaf Particularly Affected
Najaf was particularly sensitive because of its importance as one of the most significant religious destinations for Shiite Muslims. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the issue was not simply about aviation or commercial transportation, but also about religious travel and access to holy sites.
Baghdad Secures New Arrangement After Washington Talks
The Iraqi government intensified diplomatic efforts to restore the flights. On October 1, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Washington. According to the US Treasury, the discussions included Shiite pilgrimages to Najaf, Washington’s pressure campaign against Iran and Iraq’s efforts concerning Iran-aligned militias.
A day later, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office announced an arrangement under which Iranian airlines other than Mahan Air could operate up to 40 flights per day to and from Najaf.
The Iraqi government described the arrangement as a positive step that would help facilitate travel for pilgrims as well as people seeking medical treatment, education and tourism.
Mahan Air Remains Excluded
The new arrangement does not apply to Mahan Air, one of Iran’s best-known airlines and a long-standing target of US sanctions.
Washington has accused Mahan Air of providing support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the movement of personnel and military equipment. The airline has been under US sanctions for years.
Iraqi Airways to Resume Iran Flights
Iraqi Airways said on October 5 that it will resume daily flights from Najaf to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan beginning October 8.
Iraq’s Transport Ministry had previously said the national carrier obtained the necessary approval to operate flights to Iran after completing the required regulatory and technical procedures.
Why Najaf Is So Important for Iran-Iraq Travel
Najaf is one of the most important Shiite pilgrimage destinations in the world and is home to the Shrine of Imam Ali. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein previously said that approximately five million Iranian pilgrims visit Iraq each year, while millions of Iraqis travel to Iranian holy cities such as Mashhad.
The suspension affected a range of travelers, including:
A Limited Opening, Not a Broader Easing
The resumption of flights should not be interpreted as a broader easing of US sanctions against Iran. Washington has continued to intensify economic pressure on Tehran under its Operation Economic Outcast campaign, which Treasury describes as an effort to cut Iran’s access to international financial and economic channels.
The Najaf arrangement therefore represents a limited channel for eligible Iranian airlines on this route. It does not lift the broader US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.
What Happens Next?
- The immediate focus will be on whether Iranian airlines can maintain regular services and whether flight numbers approach the agreed ceiling of 40 per day. An Anadolu Agency report said three evening flights were initially scheduled, with traffic expected to increase progressively.
- Iraqi Airways is scheduled to restart its own Iran routes from Najaf on October 8, with daily services to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
- For Baghdad, the arrangement illustrates the delicate balance it must maintain between its close relationship with Iran and its increasingly important economic and security relationship with Washington.
For now, Najaf has once again become an important air link connecting Iran with Iraq’s Shiite holy cities, but the route operates under a new arrangement reached amid the wider US sanctions regime.
