Vice Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Adnan Fayhan al-Dulaimi (Photo by Iraqi News Agency)
Press TV
26 September 2026
Vice Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Adnan Fayhan al-Dulaimi, has condemned in the strongest terms the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on Iranian airlines, describing the measure as “unconsidered and unconstitutional” and detrimental to Iraq’s economic recovery and key business sector.
“Iraq and Iran are bound by geographical, religious and social ties. They also share common interests and challenges. Such commonalities oblige the Iraqi government and nation to stand by the neighboring Muslim country and its people. It is indeed a religious and moral duty,” Dulaimi said in a statement on Saturday.
He pointed out that “Iran was the first country to supply munitions and dispatch senior commanders and military advisers to Iraq during the campaign against Takfiri Daesh terrorists.”
“This is while other countries stood idly by and watched, and some even supported Daesh financially and militarily.”
“Iran also supplies Iraq with natural gas despite its own growing domestic demand, and the fact that the Baghdad government has failed over years to pay off the debts which now stand at billions of dollars,” Dulaimi said.
The senior Iraqi legislator noted that the “hasty and unconsidered decision” to ban Iranian flights is inconsistent with the principle of dissociation from conflicts and impartiality, and runs contrary to the Iraqi Constitution.”
He stated that Article 8 of the Constitution stipulates that Iraq shall observe the principle of good-neighborliness, commit itself to non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, seek to settle disputes by peaceful means, establish its relations based on common interests and reciprocal treatment, and respect its international obligations.
“This decision disrupts Iraq’s economic and developmental progress. It has significantly and seriously harmed an important sector of our economy, namely religious tourism,” he said.
“Iranian airlines are the main carriers for hundreds of thousands of Iranian and Iraqi nationals traveling between the two countries via Baghdad and Najaf airports. The ban will dramatically decrease tourism and commercial revenues, incur losses for airlines and travel agencies, and reduce revenue from passenger air transportation,” Dulaimi stated.
He warned that at least one-third of Iraq’s power generation plants would cease operation in case Iran adopts a tit-for-tat measure and stops supplying Iraq with natural gas.
Iraq’s national electricity grid would collapse under such a scenario, he cautioned, adding that a complete halt would directly cause roughly 30% to 40% of operating power plants to shut down.
“This will increase hours of power outage in Baghdad as well as central and southern governorates, and paralyze vital sectors like hospitals, water treatment facilities, pumping stations, and public service centers,” Dulaimi said.
Badr Organization censures new US aviation sanctions on Iran
Meanwhile, the leader of Iraq’s Badr Organization has vehemently denounced the new US aviation sanctions on Iranian flights.
“We strongly reject and condemn the unjust blockade imposed by the United States on Iran, particularly the recent ban on flights,” Hadi al-Amiri said in a statement on Saturday.
He urged the Iraqi government not to yield to the unwise decision, describing the matter as a litmus test for realizing the country’s full and comprehensive sovereignty.
“The Iraqi government must take heed of the Iraqi nation’s will, and review this unreasonable measure,” Amiri pointed out.
On September 8, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines and issued a cautionary statement warning that international airports, fuel distributors, ground-handling enterprises, and other service providers that engage with sanctioned carriers would be subject to secondary sanctions.
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