Iraq's Najaf airport suspends all flights to and from Iran

BAGHDAD, Sept 25: Iraq’s Najaf International Airport suspended all flights to and from Iran from 2 a.m. local time Friday until further notice, airport management announced.

The airport said the suspension followed official instructions from the relevant authorities. Airlines and flight operations bodies were directed to halt activities related to the affected services, while carriers will be notified of any instructions permitting flights to resume.

Airport director Hussein al-Muhanna had earlier said flights between Najaf and Iran were operating normally while management awaited official instructions.

The suspension follows an announcement by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization that Baghdad airport had stopped accepting flights operated by Iranian airlines.

The move affects an important route between Iran and Iraq’s Shiite religious centers. Najaf is home to the shrine of Imam Ali, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest cities and a major center of religious learning.

For many Iranian pilgrims, Najaf also serves as a gateway to nearby Karbala, where Imam Hussein is buried. The suspension therefore disrupts a key pilgrimage route and air travel between Iran and Iraq.