Iran urges Iraq to lift flight restrictions as US sanctions curb air links
Iran's Foreign Ministry called on Iraq to lift flight restrictions and restore normal air travel, blaming US sanctions. Flights have resumed only at Najaf, while Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah remain suspended, according to Al Jazeera.
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The story, neutrally told
On Thursday 1 October, Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for restrictions on flights between Iran and Iraq to be lifted and for normal air travel between the two countries to resume. Anadolu AgencyN “Iran on Thursday called for restrictions on flights between Iran and Iraq to be lifted and for normal air travel between the two countries to resume.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Al JazeeraLC “In a statement on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Tehran said that, while respecting Iraq's national sovereignty, it wanted "appropriate decisions" to restore normal operations by airlines of both countries. Anadolu AgencyN “called for “appropriate decisions” to lift the restrictions and restore normal operations by airlines of both countries” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The ministry blamed the United States, accusing it of using sanctions and "economic terrorism" to disrupt Iran's trade and air links; according to Al Jazeera it also called the efforts "illegal and inhumane" and criticised the "extraterritorial enforcement" of sanctions. Anadolu AgencyN “The ministry accused the US of using sanctions and “economic terrorism” to disrupt Iran’s trade and air links with other countries.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Al JazeeraLC “condemned Washington’s “illegal and inhumane” efforts to disrupt Iran’s trade and air transport through the “extraterritorial enforcement” of US sanctions” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
It said the restrictions run counter to both countries' interests and have caused serious difficulties for hundreds of thousands of passengers, including pilgrims, patients, students and businesspeople, and that transport links need an "independent, responsible" approach. Anadolu AgencyN “have caused serious difficulties for hundreds of thousands of passengers, including pilgrims, patients, students and businesspeople” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Al JazeeraLC “an “independent and responsible approach” to disagreements between the two governments” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Al Jazeera reports that flights between Najaf and Iran restarted late on Monday, which Iraq's state-run Iraqi News Agency credited to "diligent efforts" by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Al JazeeraLC “Flights between Najaf and Iran had restarted late on Monday, according to the country’s state-run Iraqi News Agency, which credited “diligent efforts” by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi with the resumption.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Flights remained suspended at Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports, leaving passengers with land journeys of at least 12 hours; foreign ground-handling companies refused to provide services for fear of US sanctions. Al JazeeraLC “Flights remained suspended at Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports, forcing passengers onto land journeys of at least 12 hours”“Foreign ground-handling companies refused to provide services for fear of US sanctions.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Iraq's ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra al-Hajjaj, said Baghdad had not decided to suspend Iranian flights, and Iraq's government had sought a US exemption on humanitarian grounds. Iran's Press TV reported protests in several Iraqi cities over the suspensions. Al JazeeraLC “Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra al-Hajjaj, said Baghdad had not decided to suspend Iranian flights.”“Iraq’s government had sought a US exemption “on humanitarian grounds related to medical treatment, education, religious visits, and the interests of civilians”.”“The suspensions prompted protests across Iraq, including outside Najaf airport and in Nasiriya, Karbala and Amarah, according to the Iranian news agency Press TV.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ The US ban, which took effect on 23 September and targets any company doing business with Iranian airlines, has cut Iran's air links sharply: flights at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport are down 42 percent, according to FlightRadar24, with some routes halted and the Turkiye route down 19 percent. Al JazeeraLC “The US ban, which took effect on September 23 and targets any company doing business with Iranian airlines, has sharply cut Iran’s international air links.”“Flights to and from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini international airport have fallen 42 percent, according to aviation monitor FlightRadar24” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Anadolu notes the statement comes amid longstanding US sanctions on Iran, which Washington says aim to limit revenue and resources available to the Iranian government, while Tehran says they disrupt ordinary economic and transport links. Anadolu AgencyN “Washington says the sanctions are aimed at limiting revenue and resources available to the Iranian government, while Tehran says they disrupt ordinary economic and transportation links.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the story around the practical effect on travellers and the wider US ban, with Iraqi and Iranian official accounts and flight data.
- Emphasis
- Partial resumption at Najaf, continued suspensions elsewhere, protests, 12-hour land journeys, FlightRadar24 figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include Washington's stated rationale for the sanctions.
- Charged language
- “illegal and inhumane”
- For example
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“Flights remained suspended at Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports, forcing passengers onto land journeys of at least 12 hours” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A short report relaying the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement, with a closing note on the US position.
- Emphasis
- Iran's appeal, its blame of US sanctions, and the humanitarian impact on passengers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Najaf resumption, the remaining suspended airports, protests or flight-volume data.
- Charged language
- “economic terrorism”
- For example
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“Washington says the sanctions are aimed at limiting revenue and resources available to the Iranian government” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday urging Iraq to lift flight restrictions and restore normal air travel.
- The ministry blamed US sanctions for disrupting Iran's air links.
- The restrictions affect pilgrims, patients, students and businesspeople.
Where accounts differ
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Who is responsible for the flight suspensions
- Left
- Al Jazeera reports Iraq's ambassador saying Baghdad did not decide to suspend Iranian flights, and that foreign ground handlers refused service over US sanctions fears.
- Centre
- Anadolu relays Iran's statement that US sanctions and 'economic terrorism' disrupt air links, and that Iraq should take 'appropriate decisions' to lift the restrictions.
Iran place
Iran's Foreign Ministry urges Iraq to lift the restrictions, blames US sanctions and says the curbs harm both countries' people.
“restrictions on Iran-Iraq air travel run counter to the interests of both countries” — Anadolu Agency
Iraq place
Iraq's ambassador to Iran said Baghdad had not decided to suspend Iranian flights, and the government sought a US humanitarian exemption.
“Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra al-Hajjaj, said Baghdad had not decided to suspend Iranian flights.” — Al Jazeera
Left1 article
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Iran urges Iraq to lift flight ban amid US sanctions
Mixed Detailed account of disruption and sanctions' impact, quoting Iranian, Iraqi and monitoring sources.
Centre1 article
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Iran urges Iraq to lift flight restrictions, restore normal air travel
Neutral Relays Iran's statement and adds the US rationale for sanctions.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Oct 02:00 First Anadolu AgencyN Iran urges Iraq to lift flight restrictions, restore normal air travel
- 2 Oct 05:34 +3h 34m Al JazeeraLC Iran urges Iraq to lift flight ban amid US sanctions
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.