Iraq's Najaf airport suspended all Iranian flights on Friday, enforcing US sanctions, the airport director told AFP. Airport director Hussein Muhanna told AFP that "all flights were halted between Iran and Najaf airport following a directive from the prime minister's office to the governor" of Najaf. The airport in the holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, is a major hub for Iranian flights. Iranian airlines were suspended at 02:00 am (2300 GMT Thursday), the airport director said. Several sources, including a senior government official, told AFP earlier this week that Iraq will enforce the US ban on Iranian airlines, joining several other countries. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said that Iranian airlines will "shut down" on Wednesday. Although land routes are available, Iraq remains one of the top destinations for Iranian airlines, especially after Iraqi airlines stopped flying to Iran at the start of the Middle East war in February.
