Najaf Airport Halts All Iran Flights as Baghdad Tightens Aviation Curbs

Najaf International Airport has suspended all flights to and from Iran starting Friday, Iraq's state news agency reported, widening restrictions on Iranian air traffic into the country.

The suspension follows an earlier decision by Iraq's civil aviation authority to bar Iranian flights from Baghdad airport from Wednesday. That order came after the United States threatened to sanction any airport that services Iranian carriers.

Before the Najaf suspension was announced, two sources said Iraq was weighing whether to divert Iranian flights from Baghdad to Najaf. That option now appears closed, with the southern airport also shutting its doors to Iranian services.

The measures mark a significant tightening of aviation links between the two neighbours, which share extensive religious tourism and commercial ties. Baghdad's order and Najaf's suspension together leave Iran-facing carriers with no major Iraqi airport open to them under the current restrictions.

There was no immediate word on how long the suspension would remain in place or on arrangements for passengers already booked on affected routes.