OMM Redaksiyası
Iraq is holding direct talks with the United States to exempt some of its airports from sanctions targeting Iranian airlines operating flights to regional hubs, officials said Saturday.
The request seeks an exemption that would allow flights to resume on humanitarian grounds, including medical treatment, education, religious visits and civilian interests, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“As the Iraqi government works to de-escalate tensions in the region, it emphasizes that the continuation of crises further complicates the situation,” the statement said, according to the office.
Baghdad calls for dialogue
The Iraqi government urged all parties to pursue dialogue and negotiations to resolve “the current crisis and conflicts” in a way that serves the interests of countries and peoples across the region.
The talks follow remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this week that operations by Iranian airlines worldwide would halt from Sept. 23 under new sanctions. The measures also bar Iranian flights from operating in regional countries, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.
US-Iran tensions remain high
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran that killed thousands of people, while Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and US sites in countries across the region.
Although an interim deal was reached in June to resolve the conflict, Washington and Tehran resumed hostilities after talks stalled over disagreements regarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important strategic routes for energy and goods supplies.
