The Iraqi government is moving to suspend the operation of Iranian airlines subject to US sanctions at the country’s airports, in conjunction with Washington’s escalation of its economic pressure on Tehran.
On Monday, Agence France-Presse reported this trend from official Iraqi sources, while local reports stated that the decision to suspend flights will begin to be implemented as of Tuesday, September 22nd, to include all Iraqi airports, with land traffic between the two countries continuing normally. To date, all details regarding the full scope of the decision and the list of companies included in it have not been announced.
This Iraqi move comes in response to strict American warnings. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent confirmed on Monday that the sanctions would affect those that provide services to the targeted Iranian airlines. He explained that, starting from September 23, these companies will face broad restrictions on their global operations as a result of the threat of secondary sanctions.
Besant explained that any entity that provides services to Iranians – including refueling, landing services, or selling tickets – will face the risk of being effectively excluded from the dollar-based financial system. He pointed out that these measures fall within a broader campaign to tighten the screws on the Iranian economy and reduce Tehran’s ability to access international markets and services, pointing to the continued pressure regardless of how long the conflict continues.
These restrictions coincide with the continuing political tension between Washington and Tehran despite regional diplomatic efforts seeking to calm down. In this context, US President Donald Trump stated that he is considering several options for dealing with Iran, ranging from continuing economic pressure and seeking an agreement or resorting to the military option, stressing that he will make his decision soon. On the other hand, Tehran renewed its warnings against any new American targeting, warning that it would respond firmly to any attack on its lands or interests.
