📰 3 sources 8 articles · 26 Sep 2026, 09:07 → 20 days ago

Iraq Negotiates with Washington to Exempt Its Airports from Restrictions on Iranian Aviation

Iraq is holding direct talks with the United States aimed at exempting some Iraqi airports from US measures concerning Iranian flights, after Iranian flights to and from its territory were suspended and the movement of patients, students and pilgrims was affected. Iraqi positions range from stressing the humanitarian dimension of the flights to warning of an extraordinary parliamentary session, amid talk of US pressure and threats of sanctions on airports and entities providing services to Iranian airlines.

📍 Where things stand: The Iraqi-American talks are ongoing with no announced outcome, while Iranian flights remain suspended and the Iraqi Prime Minister's office links easing the restrictions to resuming flights to meet humanitarian needs.

⏱️ Timeline

26 Sep 2026, 09:07 video-agencyia.iq reported that Iraq is holding direct talks with the United States aimed at exempting some airports from flights heading to Iran, with no available details on the airports concerned or the outcome of these talks.
26 Sep 2026, 09:11 The Iraqi government announced in an official statement that it is holding a dialogue with the United States aimed at exempting Iraqi airports from the measures taken by the US Treasury regarding Iranian flights.
26 Sep 2026, 12:20 Lebanon Debate reported that Baghdad is negotiating with Washington to obtain an exemption for some Iraqi airports from the US measures that prevent flights by Iranian airlines, after the restrictions affected the movement of patients, students and pilgrims between Iraq and Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that all Iranian airlines will cease operations as of 23 September, prompting Iraq to suspend Iranian flights from and to its territory.
26 Sep 2026, 12:49 The Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament announced that the Council is ready to hold an extraordinary session if the decision banning Iranian aviation is not reversed, without giving further details on the date of the session or the party that issued the decision.
26 Sep 2026, 17:08 The Iraqi Prime Minister's office announced that easing the restrictions on Iranian airlines will allow Iraq to resume flights, with the aim of meeting humanitarian needs.
26 Sep 2026, 20:32 Lebanon Debate reported that Iraq is holding talks with the United States to ease restrictions imposed on Iranian airlines and exempt some Iraqi airports, in order to restart flights between Iraq and Iran, confirming that the Prime Minister's office said easing the restrictions would allow flights to resume to meet humanitarian needs, while the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran described the suspension of flights as a passing and temporary measure, noting that contacts continue to return them to normal.
28 Sep 2026, 10:30 Lebanon Debate said Iraq faces a growing dilemma between Washington and Tehran after the US sanctions on Iran were expanded to include the aviation sector, and that Washington has informed Baghdad to prevent Iranian airlines from being received at its airports, threatening sanctions on airports and entities providing services to them, at a time when the positions of the Shiite Coordination Framework forces vary between abiding by the US decision and trying to maintain relations with Iran, with Iraq under severe economic pressure.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

How the sources covered it

Coverage ranged from a brief report on the existence of talks without details, to coverage based on Iraqi official statements about the negotiation track and humanitarian needs, to coverage providing broader context including the US Treasury decision, the date Iranian airlines cease operations, the affected groups, and the position of the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran. The main difference is between limiting the focus to the negotiation/humanitarian dimension and highlighting US pressure and the impact on Iraq between Washington and Tehran.

video-agencyia.iq Presented the news in a brief form about the existence of direct Iraqi-American talks to exempt some airports from flights to Iran, without quoting officials or naming the airports concerned, and did not mention the suspension of Iranian flights or its humanitarian impact.
lebnaon today Relied on Iraqi official statements, highlighting the government statement on the dialogue with Washington, the Deputy Speaker's remark about readiness for an extraordinary session, and the Prime Minister's office statement on meeting humanitarian needs, without details on the US Treasury decision or its date.
Lebanon Debate Provided broader context, citing US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement that all Iranian airlines cease operations as of 23 September, the impact on the movement of patients, students and pilgrims, and the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran's description of the suspension as a passing and temporary measure, in addition to the expansion of US sanctions on the aviation sector and the threat of sanctions on airports and entities providing services to them.

AI comparison of what each outlet emphasized. It describes emphasis, not accuracy.

video-agencyia.iqlebnaon todayLebanon Debate