US Plans Iran Sanctions Waiver for Pilgrim Flights to Iraq

The Trump administration is preparing to grant a limited waiver from U.S. sanctions on Iran to permit flights carrying Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims between Iran and Iraq, according to a person directly familiar with the deliberations.

The planned U.S. Treasury Department waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to operate flights between Iran and Najaf, one of Iraq’s most important Shi’ite holy cities, for one month. A longer-term exemption could follow, the source said.

Iraq suspended flights to and from Iran on Friday to comply with U.S. sanctions. However, Baghdad has been seeking an exemption covering travel for religious pilgrimage, medical treatment and education.

An Iraqi official said discussions with Washington over the Najaf exemption were underway, with flights between Iran and the Iraqi city expected to resume within 48 hours.

The temporary sanctions waiver is also intended to reduce pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government as Baghdad seeks closer relations with Washington while maintaining ties with neighboring Iran.

Several regional countries, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, have recently canceled direct flights with Iran amid U.S. pressure. Iranian officials have responded by warning that Tehran could disrupt regional air travel if its international air connections continue to be restricted.

The issue is particularly sensitive for Iraq because millions of Shi’ite pilgrims travel to religious sites in the country. Najaf attracts visitors to the shrine of Imam Ali and is also home to one of the world's largest and oldest active Islamic cemeteries.

According to the source, prolonged restrictions on Iran-Iraq flights could generate domestic political pressure on Baghdad and complicate U.S. efforts to curb Iranian influence in Iraq.

The Iraqi government has proposed safeguards for resumed flights, including strict passenger screening and information sharing. Baghdad has also pledged to prevent the flights from being used to transport weapons, sanctioned individuals or illicit funds.

The U.S. State Department referred questions about the potential Iran sanctions waiver to the Treasury Department, which had not immediately commented.