⚡️🇮🇶🇺🇸🇮🇷 — The Trump administration was set to grant a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions regime allowing Iraqi Airways to operate flights carrying Shi'ite pilgrims between Iran and Najaf for one month, with a more permanent waiver potentially to follow, according to a person directly involved in the deliberations; an Iraqi official said Baghdad was negotiating the exemption with Washington and expected flights to resume within 48 hours. — Reuters

➡️ The move was intended to ease pressure on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government as it seeks closer ties with Washington while balancing relations with Iran, with the source warning that continued flight restrictions could trigger a backlash uniting Iraqi Shi'ites aligned with Iran’s Supreme Leader and those following Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, undermining US efforts to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq.

➡️ Zaidi offered safeguards including rigorous screening, information sharing and guarantees that the flights would not be used to transfer weapons, sanctioned individuals or illicit funds.

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