📌 Tehran, IRNA – Foreign flights have resumed at Imam Khomeini International Airport after a 40-day interruption, with Iraqi Airways operating its first direct Najaf-Tehran service on Thursday, marking a step toward the gradual restoration of international air traffic.
Javad Salehi Artimani, deputy for operations at Imam Khomeini Airport City, said the first Iraqi Airways flight arrived from Najaf at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and departed Tehran for Najaf at 8:30 a.m.
He said Iraqi Airways would operate one daily flight on the Tehran-Najaf route, with passenger services provided in both directions.
“The resumption of Iraqi Airways flights is a step toward the return and gradual expansion of foreign flights at the airport city, and we hope that, with conditions being provided, we will see an increase in the number of flights and the activation of more international routes,” Salehi Artimani said.
Iraqi Airways also announced the resumption of its direct flights from Najaf International Airport to Iran, with daily services to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
The airline said the move aims to facilitate passenger transportation and expand Iraq’s regional air links, particularly for religious, medical, and educational purposes.
Iraqi Airways suspended flights to Iran in early March amid the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran. The resumption followed Iraq’s efforts to secure a special exemption allowing the national carrier to operate flights to Iran.
The development comes after the Iraqi government also announced an agreement allowing Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, to operate up to 40 daily flights to and from Najaf International Airport.
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