Iran asks Iraq to lift flight restrictions caused by U.S. sanctions

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has asked Iraq to take steps to lift flight restrictions caused by U.S. sanctions and return flights to normal conditions, as Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement, the ministry said the movement of millions of Iranian and Iraqi citizens required “an independent and responsible approach” to disputes between the two governments.

The air restrictions are among the direct consequences of U.S. sanctions on Iran, which have severely affected transport links between the two neighbouring countries.

The request comes at a time when U.S. economic pressure on Iran is deepening, with Washington having also imposed new sanctions on Iran’s railway and automotive sectors.