Iraq becomes first country to comply with ban on Iranian airlines

Iraq has become the first country to announce its compliance with the U.S. declaration, by banning flights from Iranian airlines.

Two Iraqi government sources told Reuters on Monday that Baghdad would suspend flights by Iranian airlines, following Washington’s announcement that these carriers would cease their services in the coming hours due to U.S. sanctions.

An Iraqi government source said, “Iraq will implement the ban on Iranian airlines in compliance with the U.S. Treasury’s decision, starting at dawn on Tuesday,” adding that “countries that fail to implement the decision will face similar sanctions.”

A second source also confirmed Iraq’s compliance with the decision.

Earlier on Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Iranian airlines would cease operations in the next two days under the pressure of U.S. sanctions.

In an interview with the U.S. news network CNBC, he clarified that “all Iranian airlines will cease operations as of September 23 (Wednesday),” adding, “If these planes land, no one will be able to refuel them, provide landing services, or sell their tickets, or they will be excluded from the dollar system.”

Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions on “all remaining Iranian airlines” that had not previously been subject to such measures.

The U.S. Treasury also targeted entities supporting Iran’s aviation sector, including companies based outside Iran.

Bessent had previously vowed to financially strangle Tehran.

Iran’s aviation sector has long suffered from sanctions that have limited its ability to obtain aircraft, spare parts, and maintenance services.