{
  "id": 10729370,
  "title": "US allows flights between Iraq’s holy city and Iran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-allows-flights-between-iraqs-holy-city-and-iran-10729370",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T15:46:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/29/us-to-allow-flights-between-iraq-holy-city-and-iran"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, Iraq's transport ministry announced that the US has granted Iraqi Airways, the national carrier, a sanctions waiver permitting it to fly to Iran. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahb al-Hasani successfully secured the exemption for Iraqi Airways to operate flights to the Islamic Republic of Iran, specifically for pilgrims traveling between Iran and Iraq's holy city of Najaf.\n\nThe airport was informed of the exemption on the previous day, but there is currently no scheduled flight. The transport ministry expects flights to commence from Najaf in October, pending the fulfillment of organizational requirements. Iraq had been in discussions with the US to seek an exemption after the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent imposed sanctions on Iranian airlines, effectively shutting them down.\n\nIraq's decision to allow flights to Iran mainly serves the needs of Iraqi Shia pilgrims, Iranians traveling to sacred sites in Iraq, Iraqi students studying in Iran, and patients seeking medical treatment there. The flights were previously suspended in March due to safety concerns, following the start of the Middle East war.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and transport minister Wahb al-Hasani successfully obtained a special exemption for Iraqi Airways to operate its flights to Iran.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "US grants Iraq’s national airline sanctions waiver for Iran flights via Najaf",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-grants-iraqs-national-airline-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-flights",
        "published": "2026-09-29T13:25:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Iraqi Airways to resume Iran flights amid US sanctions pressure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/iraqi-airways-to-resume-iran-flights-amid-us-sanctions-pressure",
        "published": "2026-09-29T14:21:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Iraqi Airways to resume Iran flights in October after securing US exemption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/iraqi-airways-to-resume-iran-flights-in-october-after-securing-us",
        "published": "2026-09-29T14:54:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "US to allow flights between Iraq holy city and Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-to-allow-flights-between-iraq-holy-city-and-iran",
        "published": "2026-09-29T15:26:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "US allows flights between Iraq’s holy city and Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-allows-flights-between-iraqs-holy-city-and-iran",
        "published": "2026-09-29T15:46:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nikkei Asia",
        "title": "Thai Airways cuts 30% of flights in response to flooding",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/thai-airways-cuts-30-of-flights-in-response-to-flooding",
        "published": "2026-09-29T17:00:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}