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Yes—on 2 October 2026, Iraq announced that Iranian airlines other than Mahan Air could operate up to 40 flights a day to and from Najaf International Airport. The announcement followed Iraq’s statement that the United States had responded positively to a request for an exemption. It does not confirm how many flights have resumed, which carriers are operating, or how long the expanded arrangement will last.
What Iraq announced
Iraq’s prime minister’s office said Iranian airlines, with Mahan Air excluded, could operate up to 40 daily flights to and from Najaf. The office also said the United States had responded positively to Iraq’s request for an exemption. Al Jazeera’s 2 October report quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi saying, “Air travel does not merely represent transportation between two airports, but rather a bridge of communication between peoples.”
The 40-flight figure is the announced daily allowance, not a verified count of flights actually operated. The contemporaneous reporting did not include direct independent confirmation of the expanded permission from a US Treasury representative.
Does the exemption include Mahan Air?
No. Iraq’s announcement expressly excluded Mahan Air. It did not provide a complete list of other eligible Iranian airlines, so the announcement alone does not establish which individual carriers are currently authorized or flying.
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How this differs from the earlier Iraqi Airways license
Reports described a separate, earlier OFAC license issued on 29 September for Iraqi Airways, its service providers, and US persons acting on its behalf. That license was reported as covering specified Iran–Najaf passenger transport, with authorized transactions ending when completed or by 28 October 2026, whichever came first; OFAC could modify or revoke it. Iraqi Media Network / Iraq News Agency reporting gives details of that earlier license.
Those reported terms belong to the Iraqi Airways license. They should not be treated as confirmed conditions of Iraq’s later announcement allowing up to 40 daily flights by Iranian airlines. The two arrangements differ in the operator described and in the source of the available information:
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| Arrangement | Operator scope | Route and purpose | Duration | What the reporting establishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earlier OFAC license, reported 29 September 2026 | Iraqi Airways, its service providers, and US persons acting on its behalf | Specified Iran–Najaf passenger transport | Until authorized transactions were completed or 28 October 2026, whichever came first; OFAC could modify or revoke it | Reported license details; not the terms of the later 40-flight announcement. Iraqi Media Network / Iraq News Agency |
| Expanded arrangement announced 2 October 2026 | Iranian airlines except Mahan Air | Flights to and from Najaf | Not stated in the announcement coverage | Iraqi government announcement reported contemporaneously; the 40 flights are an allowance, not a confirmed operating count. Al Jazeera |
Why Najaf is important for Iran–Iraq air travel
Najaf is a major destination for religious visitors traveling between Iran and Iraq. Al Jazeera described it as the main destination for Iranian flights in Iraq. Before the suspension, Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad estimated there were “roughly 25 daily flights from Iran to Najaf and about 15 flights to Baghdad,” as quoted by the outlet. That is an approximate, attributed estimate—not an independently verified schedule count. Al Jazeera’s report provides the context.
Why flights were disrupted
The announcement followed disruption after US sanctions targeted Iran’s aviation sector. Al Jazeera reported that foreign ground handlers stopped servicing Iranian aircraft over concerns about US sanctions, and flights stopped at four Iraqi airports. Contemporary reporting described the disruption as affecting pilgrims, patients, and other travelers. Al Jazeera’s coverage reported the disruption and its impact.
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What travelers should verify before relying on the announcement
The 2 October reporting did not establish how long the expanded arrangement will remain in force, which flights are operating, or current schedules and fares. Before making travel plans, check the relevant airline and airport notices for the date and route you need; the announced allowance does not by itself confirm a bookable or operating flight. Contemporaneous reporting did not specify the arrangement’s duration or current operating details.
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