According to an individual with firsthand knowledge of the situation, the US president’s administration was planning to lift some of its sanctions on Iran on Monday in order to permit flights transporting Shiite Muslim pilgrims from Iran to Iraq.
According to an insider who is part of the negotiations, Iraqi Airways would be able to fly between Iran and the Shiite holy city of Najaf in Iraq for one month thanks to a dispensation from the US Treasury Department. A longer-term permission could follow.
Under US sanctions, Iraq grounded all flights to and from Iran on Friday. According to the source, the goal was to reduce pressure on Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s Iraqi government, which has been trying to strike a balance between strengthening relations with the United States and maintaining a close connection with Iran, Iraq’s powerful neighbour.
As a result of Trump’s attempt to impose a punishing economic blockade on Iran, regional governments are cutting down on links with Iran. This could prompt retaliation against those states, especially those that maintain a delicate balance between Washington and Tehran.
An Iraqi official said the Iraqi government is reportedly in talks with the US about the Najaf exemption. Within the next 48 hours, flights between Iran and Najaf are expected to resume. The US Treasury Department offered no immediate reaction after the US State Department directed enquiries there.
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