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Iran on Thursday called for restrictions on flights between Iran and Iraq to be lifted and for normal air travel between the two countries to resume.
In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tehran, while respecting Iraq’s national sovereignty, called for “appropriate decisions” to lift the restrictions and restore normal operations by airlines from both countries.
The ministry accused the United States of using sanctions and “economic terrorism” to disrupt Iran’s trade and air links with other countries.
It said restrictions on Iran-Iraq air travel ran counter to the interests of both countries and had caused serious difficulties for hundreds of thousands of passengers, including pilgrims, patients, students and businesspeople.
The ministry said ties between Iran and Iraq are rooted in deep historical, religious, cultural and people-to-people connections.
It added that transportation links should be managed through an “independent, responsible and forward-looking approach” based on the two countries’ common interests.
The statement comes amid longstanding U.S. sanctions on Iran, including measures affecting its aviation sector and transactions involving Iranian entities.
Washington says the sanctions are aimed at limiting revenue and resources available to the Iranian government, while Tehran says they disrupt ordinary economic and transportation links.
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Iraq’s national carrier Iraqi Airways said Tuesday that it plans to resume flights to and from Iran in October after securing a “special exemption” from U.S. sanctions that had restricted services involving Iranian airlines.
In a statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency, or INA, the airline said the exemption followed “diligent efforts” by the government.
Iraqi Airways had already resumed flights between Najaf and Iranian airports Monday, according to INA.
Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates earlier suspended flights to and from Iran following new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
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