BAGHDAD, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government on Friday announced an agreement allowing Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, to operate 40 flights daily to and from Najaf International Airport in central Iraq.
A statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the agreement follows the U.S. government's cooperation in granting a requested exemption, which will help facilitate the movement of pilgrims and travelers, particularly those traveling for medical treatment, religious visits, and tourism.
The office said last Saturday that the Iraqi government was in direct dialogue with the United States to secure sanctions exemptions for certain Iraqi airports to resume flights with Iran on humanitarian grounds.
Najaf International Airport suspended all incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran on Sept. 25, following the U.S. Treasury Department's recent sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, which suspended authorizations that allowed non-U.S. airlines to fly U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran. ■
