Iran Flight Links Shrink as US Aviation Sanctions Take Effect
publishers 23articles 35first reported 23 Sep, 19:27 UTCdeveloping since 23 Sep · 8 editions
Iraq is seeking exemptions from new US measures targeting companies that do business with Iranian airlines after airports in Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah suspended flights to and from Iran on Friday.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s office said Saturday that exemptions would allow flights to resume for humanitarian reasons, including medical treatment, education and religious visits. The Iraqi government said it was in direct talks with Washington and called for dialogue to ease regional tensions.
Flights between Iran and the United Arab Emirates have also been suspended, cutting Tehran’s direct air connection with Dubai, France24 reported. The reduction in air service has pushed more passengers and freight onto land routes. Travelers between Iraq and Iran face journeys of at least 12 hours, while large backups have formed near Iran’s border with Turkey as overland shipping routes absorb additional traffic.
The disruption prompted demonstrations in Baghdad organized by Iran-allied Iraqi militias, while scholars and students from Najaf’s Hawza seminary held a vigil opposing the suspensions. Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran, Yasser al-Hajjaj, described the halt as temporary and said officials were working to restore normal air traffic.
Iranian officials have reacted sharply. Multiple regional outlets reported that a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that regional air travel could face retaliation if Iranian flights remained blocked.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 42 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 35
- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 42 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
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