The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad today, Thursday, sent a message to the Iraqi government urging it to make an "immediate decision" regarding the recent restrictions imposed on flights. This request comes at a time when the recent flight restrictions have become a serious obstacle for the movement of various groups of people, including pilgrims, students, and patients.
Deep Ties Between Tehran and Baghdad
In a post published on its official account, the Iranian embassy referred to the historical and deep relations between Tehran and Baghdad and emphasized that these relations must be preserved against provocative actions and the consequences of U.S. sanctions. In this message, the Iraqi government is expected to protect these relations by making appropriate decisions.
Read more: Masoud Pezeshkian: Dialogue with the U.S. continues and we will not flee
The recent flight restrictions are a result of a new round of U.S. sanctions against Iranian airlines, following which airport service companies in Iraq, fearing secondary sanctions, have refrained from providing services to Iranian aircraft. This has led to the suspension of flights from Iran to Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah, creating serious problems for Iranian travelers.
Iraq's Diplomatic Efforts and Reactions
In recent weeks, the Iraqi government has been seeking to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran over the flight issue and has undertaken extensive diplomatic efforts in this regard. However, these efforts have only resulted in receiving a limited one-month exemption from the U.S., which only permits pilgrimage flights from Najaf with Iraqi airlines, while Iranian companies remain barred from entering Iraqi airspace.
This situation has aligned with the anger of political groups, parties, and the people of Iraq, who have called for breaking the "U.S. siege." Hundreds have staged a sit-in in front of Najaf airport, displaying their protests. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has also stated that it has not made a decision to stop flights and that foreign companies have unilaterally cut services.
The flight restrictions have not only affected pilgrims and Iranian travelers but have also harmed students and patients. This issue requires immediate attention and action from the Iraqi government to help resolve this crisis and put the relations between the two countries back on the right track.
Read more: End of the 10-year upward trend of Iranian universities in the Times ranking · Al-Zaydi: We will announce the official end of the international coalition mission
