Sanctions on Iraqi airline with alleged links to IRGC lifted by US
The US has lifted sanctions on the Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad, which it previously accused of having links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in Iran, The New Arab and agencies report on August 6th.
On August 5th, the US Treasury updated it’s website and removed Fly Baghdad from its list of sanctions.
In January 2024, the airline, its owner and aircraft were all sanctioned as officials in Washington alleged the airline gave support to the Islamic Revolutionary Corps. The company was also accused of supporting proxy groups in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.
An official in the US Treasury said the airline “has demonstrated major changes to their operations such that their listing is no longer warranted”. These comments were given under the condition of anonymity.
The official did clarify that this decision is “not indicative of any shift in US policy toward the Government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, any designated terrorist organisation, or any person who supports or acts on behalf of any of these.”
Currently the US Treasury are still sanctioning Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani who has previously been known as the owner of Fly Baghdad.
Since the start of the US-Iran war in February 2026, many top leaders in Iran have been assassinated and Iran’s economy has been heavily sanctioned. In response the Strait of Hormuz which ships carrying a fifth of the world’s oil and fuel usually pass through has been blocked by Iranian authorities.
Currently negotiations between the two countries are strained with US President Donald Trump insisting that Iran lose access to any nuclear program.
On August 4th, Trump warned he would hit Iran “very hard” if access to the Strait wasn’t given “very soon” according to the BBC.
As of August 6th, the BBC has reported that Iran has claimed that it is in the final stages of a agreement with Oman to open a shipping route through the Strait but there is no “guarantee” of “safe navigation” for ships.
The New Arab plus agencies, BBC, Maghrebi.org
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