
Iraqi Airways resumes flights to Iran
According to a statement from the ministry, the decision was made in response to directions from Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Al-Saadawi and collaboration with relevant authorities after the regional security situation improved, the state-run news agency (INA) reported.
Manaf Abdul-Moneim, Director of Iraqi Airways, revealed that the airline will operate four flights to Iran every week: two from Baghdad International Airport on Tuesdays and Saturdays and two from Najaf International Airport on Wednesdays and Sundays.
A day after Iran and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement following a 12-day conflict in which Tel Aviv and Tehran exchanged missile and drone raids, Iraqi Airways resumed regular flight operations to international and domestic destinations through Baghdad International Airport and Basra International Airport on June 25, 2025.
The decision was made after security risks to aviation safety had been eliminated and the airspace had progressively returned to normal conditions.
After Israel bombarded Iran on June 13, asserting that it aimed to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, airlines continued to steer clear of large portions of the Middle East.
This avoidance was due to ongoing missile confrontations between Israel and Iran, representing the latest disruption in the region.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq-Iran memorandum: Tighten border control and address opposition groups
Shafaq News – Baghdad A senior Iraqi security source revealed on Wednesday details of a newly signed security memorandum between Iraq and Iran, which evolved from a previous security record into a formal memorandum of understanding. The source told Shafaq News that the memorandum addresses the presence of Iranian opposition groups in northern Iraq. These groups, mainly Kurdish-Iranian factions such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) and Komala, have operated for decades from bases in the Kurdistan Region near the Iranian border. Tehran regards them as armed insurgents, while they describe themselves as political movements opposing Iran's government. The agreement, according to the source, also seeks to prevent the emergence of armed formations similar to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group active along Iraq's northern borders with Turkiye. It further outlines mechanisms for intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols, and increased joint monitoring in designated border sectors. These measures aim to curb armed activities that could threaten security and stability, particularly in remote highland areas where Iraqi, Iranian, and Kurdish territories converge. On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw the signing of the memorandum with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, during his visit to Baghdad. The US Department of State voiced opposition to the memorandum, saying Washington rejects any arrangement that runs counter to its objectives or undermines efforts to strengthen Iraq's existing security institutions. Baghdad denounced the US stance, stressing that it is not subordinate to the policies of any other state and that its decisions are guided solely by its 'independent national will.'


Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's State of Law Coalition opposes replacing de-Baathification body
Shafaq News — Baghdad The State of Law Coalition, led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, warned on Wednesday that dissolving the Accountability and Justice Commission could open the way for Saddam Hussein's daughter, Raghad, to return and run for office. Raghad has lived in Jordan under official protection since 2003, voicing criticism of Iraq's post-invasion political system and Iranian influence, and hinting at a future political role. The Baath Party she is promoting — which ruled Iraq from 1968 until it was toppled in 2003 — was banned under de-Baathification laws designed to dismantle its political and security apparatus. She has been wanted by Iraqi authorities since 2007 and was sentenced in absentia in 2024 to seven years in prison for promoting the outlawed party. Speaking to Shafaq News, Coalition member Hussein al-Maliki described the commission as a constitutional body responsible for identifying Baathists and preventing them from holding posts specified in the constitution. Abolishing it, he argued, would remove the mechanism for vetting candidates for parliament, ministries, and senior government positions. "Calls to disband the body — which has completed only 30% of its mandate — originate from Baathist circles seeking political rehabilitation," he warned. "With more than 25,000 Baathists still present in Iraq, their return to power could revive the party's bloody authoritarian path." Earlier in the day, the Islamic Dawa Party — also led by Nouri al-Maliki — reaffirmed its support for excluding Baathists from Iraq's political process. The Accountability and Justice Commission traces its origins to the US-run " De-Baathification Committee" established in 2003 and was restructured under a 2008 law. A political source told Shafaq News earlier this year that parties in the State Administration Coalition, which includes key Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish parties and serves as the primary governing coalition in the country, had discussed replacing it with a judicial body to review candidate files.


Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Basrah crude price rises over $1 in July
Shafaq News – Baghdad The price of Iraq's Basrah Medium crude rose by more than a dollar in July, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its August monthly report. OPEC data showed that Basrah Medium averaged $70.58 per barrel last month, up $1.34 from $69.24 in June. The average price for Iraqi crude during the first seven months of 2025 stood at $71.27, compared with $81.99 for the same period in 2024. The report also indicated that the average price of OPEC's crude basket increased to $69.82 per barrel in July, from $68.90 in June. Iraq exports roughly 70% of its crude to Asian markets, around 20% to Europe, and the remaining 10% to the United States.