US Sanctions Force Iraq to Deny Landing to Iranian Football Team's Plane

Iraq denied a landing to a plane carrying Iran's national football team on Tuesday at Basra airport. Officials from Basra airport cited the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority's decision, which is reportedly linked to United States sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines. The aircraft was forced to return to Iran, landing at Abadan airport. The Iranian team is now expected to travel to Basra by road to participate in a four-nation tournament that also includes Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.

An Iraqi civil aviation official stated that the decision was made to avoid violating US sanctions on Iranian airlines. This incident underscores the growing impact of US sanctions on Iranian aviation activities within Iraq. Washington had previously announced sanctions targeting global companies engaging with Iranian airlines, with the aim of grounding Iran's entire civil fleet.

In September, Iraq had already ordered the suspension of Iranian flights to Baghdad airport following threats of secondary sanctions from the US against airports and service providers handling Iranian carriers. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned that airports servicing Iranian airlines could face sanctions, including exclusion from the US dollar system. These intensified sanctions are part of a broader US strategy to exert economic pressure on Iran.