US Weighs Limited Sanctions Waiver for Iran-Iraq Pilgrim Flights to Najaf
The Trump administration is considering a limited waiver to Iran sanctions to permit pilgrim flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf.
The United States is weighing a narrow exemption to its Iran sanctions regime that would permit flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims between Iran and the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, according to a person with direct knowledge of the discussions.
The individual, who is involved in the deliberations, said the waiver would be issued by the US Treasury Department and would allow Iraqi Airways to operate services to and from Najaf for a period of one month. A more durable arrangement could follow after that initial window.
No decision has been announced, and the timing of any waiver remains unclear. The deliberations concern a limited carve-out rather than a broader easing of the sanctions program, which Washington has maintained as part of its pressure campaign on Tehran.
Najaf is a major destination for Shi'ite pilgrimage, and flights between Iran and the city are a significant channel for religious travel. The proposed waiver would apply specifically to Iraqi Airways operations on that route.