BAGHDAD, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Airways, the national carrier of Iraq, is preparing to resume flights to Iran in October after obtaining a special exemption to operate the routes, Iraq's Transportation Ministry said Tuesday.
In a statement, the ministry said that Iraqi Airways is accelerating preparations for the flights, with operations commencing from Iraq's Najaf International Airport once all necessary regulatory requirements are met.
The announcement came after the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on Saturday that 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.
Several Iraqi airports have suspended incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran recently, following U.S. sanctions, according to Iraqi media.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, suspending authorizations that allowed non-U.S. airlines to fly U.S.-origin or U.S.-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. ■
