WANA (Oct 02) – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi announced that 40 flights would operate daily between Iran and Najaf, in both directions.

 

According to the Iraqi prime minister’s office, Iranian airlines, except Mahan Air, have been authorized to operate the flights.

 

Al-Zaydi thanked the U.S. government for what he described as its positive response and cooperation in granting an exemption for Najaf flights, saying the move would help resolve the issue and facilitate the movement of pilgrims and passengers, particularly those traveling for medical treatment, pilgrimage and tourism.

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned what it described as unlawful and inhumane actions by the United States to disrupt Iran’s commercial relations and air transportation with other countries through the extraterritorial implementation of U.S. sanctions.

 

The ministry said such measures violated the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, particularly respect for states’ national sovereignty, as well as basic human rights standards, and described them as a dangerous attempt to undermine friendly relations between countries, particularly neighboring states.

 

The ministry stressed that the movement of millions of Iranian and Iraqi citizens for economic and commercial activities, pilgrimage, tourism, education, and medical treatment required transportation and communications between the two nations to be managed independently, responsibly and based on their common interests.

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also called, while respecting Iraq’s national sovereignty, for appropriate measures to counter what it described as U.S. economic terrorism and interference, remove the restrictions and restore normal conditions for flights operated by the airlines of the two countries in line with the interests of both nations.

 

Al-Zaydi said flights were not merely “simple transportation between two airports,” but rather a bridge connecting peoples, adding that the issue was highly important for tourism, the economy and social relations.

 

He also said Iraq based its foreign relations and contacts on its national interests and sought balanced and positive relations with different countries.