--- title: "US Considers Sanctions Waiver for Iran-Iraq Flights" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights" category: "Politics" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-09-28T20:05:11.619Z" source_reported: "2026-09-28T19:27:27.769Z" updated: "2026-09-28T20:05:11.619Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 40 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-28T20:00:21.940974+00:00" --- # US Considers Sanctions Waiver for Iran-Iraq Flights *A limited exemption is being considered to allow religious pilgrims to travel between Iran and Najaf for one month.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to a source, with two independent outlets corroborating. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes a right of reply and specifies dates and places. - Hype 40 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises an exemption, and the body confirms a waiver is under consideration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US is considering a limited waiver from sanctions on Iran to allow flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf. - The waiver would permit Iraqi Airways to transport religious pilgrims for one month, with a possibility of extension. - Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the US. - Iraqi Airways resumed flights between Najaf and Iranian airports on Monday. The United States is considering granting a limited waiver from its sanctions on Iran. This potential exemption would allow flights carrying religious pilgrims between Iran and the Iraqi city of Najaf for a period of one month. The waiver could be extended. Iraqi Airways resumed its flights between Najaf and Iranian airports on Monday, following efforts by the Iraqi government to restart air travel between the two countries. The resumption of flights occurred as reports emerged of the US consideration for the exemption. ## Disagreement on Sanctions Details While multiple sources indicate the US is considering a waiver for flights between Iran and Najaf, details regarding the scope and duration vary. Some reports suggest the waiver would specifically allow Iraqi Airways to operate these flights, while others mention a potential permanent exemption for Najaf Airport. It remains unclear if Iranian airlines would also be included in any such exemption. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention Iran's formal complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the US. The left-rated report and the centre-rated reports do mention this complaint. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 43% (3) - Right: 43% (3) 7 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-28T20:00:21.940974+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-28T20:15:24.877Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The single left-rated report led with Iraqi Airways resuming flights to Iran and mentioned an exception to US sanctions. It stated that the US was considering a waiver allowing Iraqi Airways to transport pilgrims between Iran and Najaf for one month. The report also noted Iran's formal complaint to the ICAO against the US over restrictions affecting Iranian airlines. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the US granting a sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf. These digests stated that the waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to fly religious pilgrims for one month. One digest noted that the US government, under President Donald Trump, was set to grant this limited exemption. Another digest mentioned the dilemma between sanctioning Tehran and stabilising Iraq. ### Right - The right-rated reports highlighted that the US would grant a sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, citing a source. These digests specified that the waiver would allow flights carrying Shiite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq. One report mentioned that the Trump administration was considering this limited waiver on Monday. Another digest noted that the waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to operate flights to and from Najaf. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - unknown: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [kikar.co.il](https://kikar.co.il/world-news/washington-iran-sanctions-najaf-waiver) — Washington Surrenders: Sanctions on Iran Crack with Surprising Exemption - [KAYHAN LIFE](https://kayhanlife.com/news/iran/sanctions2026/exclusive-us-to-grant-sanctions-waiver-for-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-source-says) — EXCLUSIVE: US to Grant Sanctions Waiver for Flights Between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf, Source Says - [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/ebusiness/2026/9/28/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ae%d8%b7%d9%88%d8%b7-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a3%d9%86%d9%81-%d8%b1%d8%ad%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d9%8a%d9%86) — Iraqi Lines Resume Their Flights to Iran and Speak of an Exception to United States Sanctions. - [The Express Tribune](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2631919/us-to-grant-sanctions-waiver-for-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-source-says) — US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, source says - [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/09/28/eua-concedero-iseno-de-sanes-para-voos-entre-ir-e-najaf-no-iraque-diz-fonte.ghtml) — U.S. Will Grant Sanctions for Flights Between Iran and Najaf, Iraq, Says Source - [South China Morning Post](https://scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3369111/us-grant-sanctions-waiver-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-source-says) — US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf: source - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/28/exclusive-us-to-grant-sanctions-waiver-for-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-source-says) — Exclusive-US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf, source says - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/us-to-grant-sanctions-waiver-for-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-20000415.htm) — US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/us-to-grant-sanctions-waiver-for-flights-between-iran-and-iraqs-najaf-source-says) — US to grant sanctions waiver for flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf, source says - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2167802/ipa-exetazetai-exairesi-gia-ptiseis-pros-to-irak-para-tis-kyroseis-sto-iran) — US: Exception Under Consideration for Flights to Iraq Despite Iran Sanctions - [Unknown](https://alquds.co.uk/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AD-%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA) — Source: The US Is Considering Granting Sanctions Exemptions for Flights Between Iran and Najaf in Iraq. - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/234856_ipa-exetazoyn-exairesi-toy-aerodromioy-natzaf-irak-apo-kyroseis-se-iranikes) — US: Najaf Airport Exempted From Sanctions on Iranian Airlines - [Capital.gr](https://capital.gr/diethni/4020149/ipa-to-aerodromio-tis-natzaf-sto-irak-endexetai-na-exairethei-apo-tis-kuroseis-pou-epiblithikan-stis-iranikes-aeroporikes) — US: Najaf Airport in Iraq May Be Exempt From Sanctions Imposed on Iranian Airlines - [hathalyoum.net](https://hathalyoum.net/articles/4238872) — Prominent Among Them Is the Support for the Exception of Najaf Airport to the Treasury's Decision to Account for the weapons... the Details of the Presidential Meeting. ## Questions **What is the US considering regarding Iran sanctions?** The US is considering granting a limited waiver from its sanctions on Iran. This would allow flights carrying religious pilgrims between Iran and the Iraqi city of Najaf for one month, with a possibility of extension. **What action has Iran taken?** Iran has filed a formal complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the United States. This action is in response to restrictions affecting Iranian airlines. **Have flights between Iran and Iraq resumed?** Yes, Iraqi Airways resumed its flights between Najaf and Iranian airports on Monday. This resumption followed efforts by the Iraqi government to restart air travel between the two countries. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US Considers Sanctions Waiver for Iran-Iraq Flights", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-considers-sanctions-waiver-for-iran-iraq-flights