BAGHDAD/ANKARA – The Iraqi government is in direct dialogue with the United States to secure sanctions exemptions for certain Iraqi airports to resume flights with Iran on humanitarian grounds, according to an official statement on Saturday.
The media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the requested waivers aim to allow flights for medical treatment, education, religious visits, and civilian interests following recent US Department of the Treasury measures against Iranian airlines operating in the region.
The statement stressed that Iraq is actively working to de-escalate regional tensions, warned that prolonged crises further complicate the situation, and called on all parties to resolve conflicts through dialogue.
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The move came after several Iraqi airports suspended incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran recently, following US sanctions, according to Iraqi media.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, suspending authorizations that allowed non-US airlines to fly US-origin or US-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran, warning that foreign companies assisting sanctioned Iranian airlines, including through aircraft, cargo, sales-agent, procurement, or other support, could face consequences.
US sanctions disrupt Iran-Türkiye air links, weigh on Turkish tourism
Meanwhile, the new US sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector have disrupted air links between Türkiye and Iran, raising concerns about the impact on Türkiye's tourism industry, where Iranian visitors constitute an important source market.
Amid the latest measures and continuing regional tensions, major Turkish carriers have suspended or removed Iran services from their booking systems, according to Turkish media reports.
Turkish Airlines and budget carrier AJet have removed all scheduled flights to Iranian destinations from their booking systems through March 2027, while Pegasus Airlines has also removed Iranian destinations from its reservation platform, according to Ekonomim, an online financial news outlet.
Türkiye has long been a popular destination for Iranian travelers, with air links supporting tourism, family visits and business exchanges. The country received 3.2 million Iranian visitors in 2024, making Iran one of its largest foreign visitor markets.
The disruption comes amid a difficult tourism outlook for Türkiye. The government recently lowered its 2026 tourism revenue projection to $65 billion from an initial target of $68 billion amid heightened regional tensions.
Hamit Kuk, a board member of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, stressed that transportation was fundamental to tourism.
"The sanctions have started. Tourism equals transportation. Where there is no transportation, tourism activity also weakens or comes to a standstill," Kuk said, adding that Türkiye had already lost much of the Iranian travel associated with the Nowruz holiday period in March and the summer season following the start of the US-Israel-Iran war.
