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BAGHDAD: US President Donald Trump\u2019s administration \u200bwas set to grant a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program on Monday to allow for flights carrying Shiite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.<\/p>\n
The source, who is involved in the deliberations, said the US Treasury Department waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to fly back and forth between Iran and the Shiite holy city of Najaf in Iraq for one month, with a more permanent waiver potentially following.<\/p>\n
Iraq \u200chalted flights to \u200cand from Iran on Friday, in line \u200bwith US \u200csanctions.<\/p>\n
The \u2060source said \u200bthe \u2060move aimed to ease pressure on the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, who has sought to deepen ties with Washington while also balancing a strong relationship with Iraq\u2019s influential neighbor, Iran.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s effort to impose a crippling economic blockade on Iran is forcing regional governments to scale back ties with Iran, creating potential backlash against those states, particularly those that balance their ties with both Washington and Tehran.<\/p>\n
Zaidi\u2019s office \u2060over the weekend said that Iraq was seeking an exemption \u200cfor travel between Iran and Iraq for \u200cmedical treatment, education and pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
An Iraqi official said the \u200bIraqi government was in talks with the \u200cUS about the Najaf exemption and expected flights between Iran and Najaf \u200cto resume within 48 hours.<\/p>\n
The US State Department referred questions to the Treasury Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
In recent days, countries including Turkiye, the UAE and Iraq have canceled direct flights with Iran as a result of US pressure. \u200cIn response, Iranian officials have threatened to halt regional air travel if Iran\u2019s air links continued to be cut.<\/p>\n
With \u2060Shiite religious pilgrims \u2060traveling between Iran and Iraq each year to visit key shrine cities, Iraq is perhaps in the most sensitive position.<\/p>\n
Najaf, a center for religious study, draws millions of pilgrims a year to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first Shiite leader, and the world\u2019s largest and oldest active Islamic cemetery.<\/p>\n
The source said that barring flights between the two countries could cause severe backlash against Iraq\u2019s government by uniting Shiites who follow Iran\u2019s supreme leader and those who follow Iraq\u2019s Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, undermining US efforts to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq.<\/p>\n
Zaidi has offered to provide safeguards for the flights, including rigorous screening and information sharing \u200bas well as ensuring the flights \u200bare not used for transfer of weapons, sanctioned individuals or illicit money, the source said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n