Iraqi airports suspend flights to and from Iran

Two sources told Reuters that Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports in Iraq have suspended Iranian flights starting today, Friday, after other Iraqi airports took the same step days earlier.

According to the two sources and official media, this move means the suspension of air traffic to and from Iran at all four Iraqi airports that previously operated such flights: Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah.

Earlier today, Friday, the official Iraqi News Agency reported that Najaf International Airport had suspended all flights to and from Iran, effective today, Friday.

Earlier this week, two other sources told Reuters that Iraq had directed civil aviation authorities to halt Iranian flights to Baghdad airport starting Wednesday. The sources added at the time that the government was considering rerouting Iranian flights from Baghdad to Najaf.

Washington announced that it would impose sanctions on any companies worldwide dealing with Iranian airlines after September 23, aiming to ground Iran’s civilian aviation fleet globally.