US Grants Narrow Sanctions Waiver Allowing Up to 40 Daily Iranian Flights to Iraq's Najaf Airport

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced on October 2, 2026, that Baghdad had secured a limited US sanctions exemption permitting Iranian airlines—excluding the long-sanctioned Mahan Air—to operate up to 40 flights per day to and from Najaf International Airport. The waiver facilitates travel for Shia pilgrims, medical patients, tourists, and others affected by prior restrictions, while Najaf serves as a key hub for religious visits to Iraqi and Iranian holy sites.

This development followed US Treasury sanctions imposed on September 8, 2026, targeting 36 entities tied to Iran’s aviation sector as part of 'Operation Economic Outcast.' The measures prompted foreign ground-handling firms at Iraqi airports to halt services to Iranian carriers out of fear of secondary sanctions, leading to flight suspensions including at Najaf by late September. Iraq subsequently engaged in direct talks with Washington, offering safeguards such as passenger screening and assurances against illicit cargo or transfers.

Reuters reported on September 28 that the US was preparing a limited, initially one-month waiver focused on Iraqi Airways for pilgrim flights, with potential for extension. The New York Times confirmed on October 3 that the exemption expanded to most Iranian carriers for the specified daily limit at Najaf. Al Jazeera and other outlets noted the exclusion of Mahan Air, which has faced US sanctions since 2011 over alleged ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iraqi officials framed the move as a humanitarian bridge, while the US Treasury emphasized it does not lift broader sanctions. The waiver underscores Baghdad’s balancing act between Washington and Tehran amid regional tensions.