UAE, Iraq suspend Iranian airline flights under US sanctions

The United Arab Emirates and Iraq have suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines, effective immediately, following U.S. Treasury sanctions announced on September 8 targeting Iran's aviation sector. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority cited U.S. restrictions preventing Iranian airlines from using airports worldwide. In Iraq, Najaf International Airport prevented passengers from boarding a Meraj Air aircraft on Friday, forcing it to return empty, while Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah airports also halted Iranian operations.

The U.S. sanctions package targets 27 Iranian airlines and dozens of supporting companies, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning that foreign airports and service providers risk secondary sanctions—including exclusion from the dollar financial system—if they continue servicing Iranian carriers. Multiple regional airports have now enforced the measures: Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Oman suspended Iranian flights on Wednesday, with Turkmenistan also refusing passage to an Iranian aircraft bound for Dushanbe.

Iranian officials have responded with escalating threats. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned on Wednesday that neighboring countries cooperating with U.S. restrictions would find their airports unable to operate flights to Iran. Senior Iranian official Mohammad Mokhber stated: "Flights in the region are either free for everyone, or for no one," and warned that "if Iran does not have the possibility of flying and receiving airport services, no country in the region will have this possibility either." Iran's Civil Aviation Organization spokesman Majid Akhavan said diplomatic and aviation talks were underway to restore flights to the UAE.

The suspensions have disrupted major air corridors, particularly from Tehran to Dubai, a commercial hub with multiple daily Iranian flights and significant Iranian business ties. An Iran Airtour flight scheduled to depart Thursday morning was cancelled after tickets had been issued. Several smaller Iranian carriers continue operating to China and Armenia, both of which have resisted U.S. pressure, while some routes to Turkey remain open. Iraqi lawmaker Faleh al-Khazali accused Baghdad of accepting economic damage by implementing the restrictions, holding the government responsible for resulting financial losses.