--- title: "US removes Fly Baghdad from sanctions list, keeps owner blacklisted" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted" category: "Politics" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-05T17:05:31.479Z" source_reported: "2026-08-05T16:37:44.000Z" updated: "2026-08-05T17:05:31.479Z" trust_score: 66 critic_score: 77 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-05T18:15:40.812071+00:00" --- # US removes Fly Baghdad from sanctions list, keeps owner blacklisted *Treasury cites operational changes by the Iraqi airline, which was designated in 2024 over ties to Iran’s IRGC* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 66 of 100, higher is better. Trust 66: includes official Treasury statement and multiple independent outlets, but lacks named source beyond anonymous official. - Craft 77 of 100, higher is better. Critic 77: explains context, separates facts, provides specific names and dates, but lacks quoted responses from affected parties. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no clickbait or exaggerated claims beyond the factual report. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US Treasury removed Fly Baghdad airline and two of its aircraft from its sanctions list on 4 August 2026, citing major operational changes by the company. - Sanctions remain in place against the airline’s previously identified owner, Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, who was designated in 2024 over alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. - The Treasury stated the removal does not signal a shift in US policy toward Iran or its associated groups. - The decision followed an administrative reconsideration process, as reported by the Economic Times. The US Treasury removed Fly Baghdad airline and two of its aircraft from its sanctions list on 4 August 2026. The airline had been designated in January 2024 over allegations it provided support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. A Treasury official, speaking anonymously, told AFP the airline had demonstrated major changes to its operations, which warranted the removal. Sanctions remain in place against Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, who was previously identified as the airline’s owner. The Treasury clarified the decision was not indicative of any shift in US policy toward Iran, the IRGC, or designated terrorist organisations. The removal followed an administrative reconsideration process, as reported by the Economic Times. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mentioned the Treasury’s statement that the removal did not signal a policy shift toward Iran or the IRGC. Five of the seven right-rated digests also omitted this statement. The unrated Shafaq News digest did not specify whether sanctions remain in place against the airline’s owner. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (2) - Centre: 16% (2) - Right: 67% (8) 3 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-05T18:15:40.812071+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-05T19:15:08.270Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Both left-rated digests led on the lifting of sanctions against Fly Baghdad. Cumhuriyet’s digest described the airline as an "organization linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard," while Vanguard News called it an "Iraqi airline linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards." Neither digest mentioned the Treasury’s statement that the removal did not signal a policy shift toward Iran or the IRGC. ### Centre - The Economic Times, the only centre-rated report, led on the Treasury’s removal of sanctions against Fly Baghdad and two of its aircraft. It quoted the Treasury official’s statement that the airline had demonstrated major operational changes, and included the official’s clarification that the removal was "not indicative of any shift in US policy toward the Government of Iran." The report also noted that sanctions remain in place against the airline’s previously identified owner. ### Right - All seven right-rated digests led on the removal of sanctions against Fly Baghdad. The Straits Times, Tribune India, Latestly, Times of India, i24NEWS, and Mehr News Agency described the airline as previously linked to Iran’s IRGC or its Quds Force. The News framed the removal as part of a broader pattern, headlining its digest "US Treasury lifts specific Iran sanctions as Trump deal nears." - i24NEWS and Times of India included the Treasury’s statement that the removal did not signal a policy shift toward Iran or the IRGC. The other five right-rated digests did not mention this clarification. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## 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. - low: 1 - mixed: 6 - high: 4 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 1 ## 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 - [Aktuality.sk](https://aktuality.sk/clanok/NYt2oL3/usa-rusia-sankcie-voci-fly-baghdad-iracke-aerolinie-uz-washington-nepovazuje-za-podporovatela-revolucnych-gard) — US Lifts Sanctions on Iraqi Airline Fly Baghdad - [KAYHAN LIFE](https://kayhanlife.com/news/iran/us-lifts-sanctions-on-fly-baghdad-previously-linked-to-islamic-republics-irgc) — US Lifts Sanctions on Fly Baghdad, Previously Linked to Islamic Republic’s IRGC - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/us-lifts-sanctions-on-fly-baghdad-previously-linked-to-irans-irgc) — US lifts sanctions on Fly Baghdad, previously linked to Iran's IRGC - [Al Arabiya](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2026/08/05/us-removes-sanctions-from-three-irgclinked-entities) — US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline linked to Iran's IRGC - [The News](https://thenews.com.pk/latest/1411356-us-treasury-lifts-specific-iran-sanctions-as-trump-deal-nears) — US Treasury lifts specific Iran sanctions as Trump deal nears - [Tribune India](https://tribuneindia.com/news/usa-news/us-removes-sanctions-from-three-irgc-linked-entities-treasury-website-shows) — US removes sanctions from three IRGC-linked entities, Treasury website shows - The Tribune - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/world-news-us-removes-sanctions-from-three-irgc-linked-entities-treasury-website-shows-7547123.html) — US Removes Sanctions from Three IRGC-linked Entities, Treasury Website Shows - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/haberler/abd-iran-devrim-muhafizlari-baglantili-iraka-ait-20120869-haberi) — The US Has Removed an Iraqi Airline with Ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard From Its Sanctions List. - [Cumhuriyet](https://cumhuriyet.com.tr/dunya/abd-den-kritik-iran-hamlesi-iran-devrim-muhafizlari-ile-baglantili-o-kurulusun-yaptirimlari-kaldirildi-2526776) — US Makes Critical Move Regarding Iran: Sanctions Lifted on Organization Linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. - [Vanguard News](https://vanguardngr.com/2026/08/us-lifts-sanctions-on-iraqi-airline-linked-to-irans-revolutionary-guards) — US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards - [i24NEWS](https://i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/artc-us-delists-iraqi-carrier-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list) — US delists Iraqi carrier Fly Baghdad from sanctions list - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/washington-removes-sanctions-on-iraqs-fly-baghdad-airline/articleshow/132944204.cms) — Washington removes sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad airline - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/washington-removes-sanctions-on-iraqs-fly-baghdad-airline/articleshow/132944204.cms) — Washington removes sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad airline - [Unknown](https://shafaq.com/en/society/US-lifts-sanctions-on-Iraqi-airline-Fly-Baghdad) — US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad - Shafaq News - [Mehr News Agency](https://en.mehrnews.com/news/246787/US-Treasury-lifts-some-sanctions-on-IRGC) — US Treasury lifts some sanctions on Iraqi airliner ## Questions **Why did the US remove sanctions on Fly Baghdad?** The US Treasury removed sanctions on Fly Baghdad after the airline demonstrated major operational changes. A Treasury official stated these changes warranted the removal, following an administrative reconsideration process. The decision does not signal a shift in US policy toward Iran or its associated groups. **Are sanctions still in place against Fly Baghdad’s owner?** Yes, sanctions remain in place against Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, who was previously identified as Fly Baghdad’s owner. The US Treasury designated him in 2024 over alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. **Which outlets reported the Treasury’s statement on US policy toward Iran?** The Economic Times, i24NEWS, and Times of India reported the Treasury’s statement that the removal of sanctions did not signal a shift in US policy toward Iran or the IRGC. The other eight digests did not mention this clarification. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US removes Fly Baghdad from sanctions list, keeps owner blacklisted", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-removes-fly-baghdad-from-sanctions-list-keeps-owner-blacklisted