Iraq negotiates with Washington on airport exemption from U.S. Iranian-flight restrictions

Iraq's government has announced direct talks with Washington on exempting its airports from U.S. Treasury restrictions on Iranian airline flights.

• Iraq's government announced Saturday it is holding direct dialogue with the U.S. side on exempting some Iraqi airports from U.S. Treasury measures on Iranian flights to regional destinations.
• The government said the exemption would allow flights to resume for humanitarian reasons, including medical treatment, study, and religious visits.
• Baghdad called on all parties to adopt dialogue and negotiation to end current regional crises and conflicts.
• The Iraqi government said it is working to calm the region and settle differences through political means.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said all Iranian airlines would cease operations from September 23.
• Some Iraqis stranded in Tehran were forced into over-12-hour overland journeys home.
• Iraqi airlines had already suspended flights to Iran since the Middle East war began in February.
• Iraqi ground-handling companies refused to service Iranian aircraft over fears of violating US sanctions.
• Parliamentarian Mohsen al-Mandalawi criticized the effective ban as hasty and ill-considered.
• Iraq's ambassador to Tehran said the flight suspension affects about 100,000 Iraqi students and a large expatriate community, calling the situation temporary.