Iraq suspends Iranian flights to Baghdad after US threatens sanctions on airport service providers

Iraq has suspended Iranian flights to Baghdad airport starting Wednesday, following a U.S. threat to sanction any airport servicing Iranian carriers. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that all Iranian airlines would face secondary sanctions on air service providers by September 23, seven months into the U.S.-Iran conflict. The Iraqi government is reportedly considering diverting Iranian Airways flights to Najaf airport. Additionally, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the cancellation of flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat, with a spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization noting that "Iranian travelers are not currently being admitted at the airport in Oman." Bessent emphasized that airports providing services like fuel, landing, or ticket sales to Iranian airlines would be "knocked out of the dollar system."