Iraq’s Najaf airport, a top destination for Shia pilgrims, suspended all Iranian flights on Friday, enforcing US sanctions and leaving travellers scrambling for solutions.
Airport director Hussein Muhanna told AFP that “all flights were halted between Iran and Najaf airport following a directive from the prime minister’s office to the governor” of Najaf.
“I cannot even walk in the street, it is impossible for me to travel by land. “We will stay home from now on. An Iraqi employee of an Iranian airline at Najaf airport said Iranian carriers usually operate at least 20 daily flights, but after the suspension, only four flights to other destinations remain scheduled Friday.
“All Iraqi airports, including in Kurdistan, have enforced the ban,” a government source told AFP. “People’s lives are at risk,” Mansour said. Iraq has joined several other countries including the United Arab Emirates in enforcing the US ban, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Iranian airlines will “shut down” on Wednesday. If there are no flights, why should we go to the airport?,” he said.
