Tehran, Baghdad push for resumption of flights
Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh and Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Yasser Abdul Zahra Al-Hajjaj discussed bilateral issues, including the resumption of flights between the two countries, during a meeting in Tehran.
Al-Hajjaj referred to US pressure on air transportation between Iran and Iraq, saying the two sides were working to identify mechanisms that could help address the issue under the current circumstances.
“Flights between the two countries will resume soon,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
“Millions of pilgrims travel to the holy sites, while thousands of students and schoolchildren, as well as large Iranian and Iraqi communities, travel between the two countries. There are also extensive trade ties between the two sides.”
He added that large numbers of Iranian and Iraqi nationals live in each other’s countries and that economic and people-to-people ties between the two sides were deep-rooted and strong.
“I believe such a decision [by the US] cannot diminish the depth of relations between the two countries,” the Iraqi envoy said.
Sadegh, for her part, said ties between Iran and Iraq were deep and interconnected, adding that countries with little in common with Iran and Iraq in terms of culture, civilization, ethics and shared history and religion could not create division or separation between the two nations.
“Given the efforts currently being made by both countries, we hope the issue of flights will be resolved as soon as possible and air connectivity between Iran and Iraq will improve,” she said.
The United States has recently imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation industry as part of its broader pressure campaign. The measures also include secondary sanctions against foreign companies and intermediaries that provide Iranian airlines with fuel, airport services, spare parts or other support.
The measures have led to restrictions affecting some Iranian flights to other countries, including Iraq.
However, officials from both countries are pursuing efforts to bring back air links between Iran and Iraq.