American pressure works: Iraq halts Iranian flights to Baghdad

Iraq has ordered a halt to Iranian flights to Baghdad starting at midnight, following an American threat to impose secondary sanctions on any entity providing services to Iranian airlines. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that from September 23, Iranian airlines will face secondary sanctions, and service providers continuing to work with them risk losing access to the dollar system. Meanwhile, it was reported that the Iraqi government discussed diverting Iran Air flights to Baghdad to Najaf Airport.

Iraq has ordered the Civil Aviation Authority to suspend Iranian flights to Baghdad International Airport starting at midnight, following an American threat to impose secondary sanctions on airports and companies that provide services to Iranian airlines, according to a Reuters report. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced earlier this week that from September 23, Iranian airlines will face the threat of secondary sanctions. He said that aviation service providers who continue to work with Iranian companies risk losing access to the dollar system. It was also reported, according to two sources, that the Iraqi government discussed the possibility of diverting Iran Air flights from Baghdad to Najaf Airport. The sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, citing the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority, that flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat have been canceled starting Wednesday, while other international flights, including to Istanbul, are expected to operate as scheduled. A spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Authority said Iranian passengers are currently not permitted to enter through Oman's airport. Bessent clarified in an interview with CNBC that companies and airports that continue to provide services to Iranian airlines risk sanctions: "You cannot provide them with fuel, landing services, or sell them tickets – otherwise you will be cut off from the dollar system."