The first commercial foreign airline flight to Iran since the Middle East war began arrived in Tehran on October 8, 2026. The flight was operated by Iraqi Airways from Najaf, Iraq, to Imam Khomeini International Airport after the United States granted a sanctions waiver to the Iraqi carrier to operate services to Iran. The resumption of foreign airline flight comes after restrictions imposed on Iran’s aviation sector led to the cancellation of several Iranian airlines’ international services. This limited reopening of international air travel comes as Iran’s aviation industry struggles to recover from the impact of sanctions and the ongoing conflict in the region.
Iraqi Airways Reopens Najaf Tehran Air Link
The Iraqi Airways flight departed from Najaf Airport and landed at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran at 6:50 a.m. local time (0320 GMT) on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to Iranian state media. The state TV aired images of the aircraft landing in the Iranian capital and reported that the flight was a return journey. The route connects the Iranian capital with Najaf, a prominent center of Shiite Islam where millions of Iranians make pilgrimages.
The United States granted Iraqi Airways an exemption last month to operate flights to Iran despite Washington’s restrictions on the Iranian aviation sector. An Iraqi Transport Ministry official had stated in an interview with AFP that the exemption applies to pilgrims traveling between Iran and Najaf. The flight resuming service marks the first commercial foreign airline flight to Iran since the war began, according to the report.
Iran’s International Aviation Network Constrained
The developments come after the United States imposed further restrictions on Iran’s aviation sector and threatened to take action against firms facilitating such travel. Following the restrictions imposed by the US, several Iranian airlines had to cancel their flights to other countries as most nations responded with similar sanctions against Iran’s carriers. Iran has in recent days complained to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the latest restrictions imposed by the US on its aviation sector.
Despite the restrictions, a few international routes by Iranian airlines are available as travelers seek alternative means of traversing the Persian Gulf. Turkey has become a popular destination for Iranians to transit in and out of the country as most airlines operating out of Iran have suspended their operations. Available international routes operated by Iranian carriers include; Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, Malaysia and Thailand. The United Arab Emirates, a former important travel destination for Iranian carriers, has suspended flights operated by them.
New Arrangement to Expand Access to Najaf
Iraq has struck a deal with the United States allowing Iranian carriers with the exception of Mahan Air, to operate daily flights to and from Najaf. The new arrangement could ease the restricted travel between Iran and Iraq, particularly for religious visitors traveling between the two nations in connection with the holy sites.
The above developments indicate the extent to which the countries surrounding Iran and the US have influenced its international aviation network. To the tourism sector, the lifting of the ban on Iraqi Airways operating out of Najaf represents an important connection for pilgrims and a limited opportunity for commercial flights between Iran and other nations around the world.
Source: AFP via Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)
