The Trump administration considers a limited waiver to the US Iran sanctions program that would allow flights carrying Shi'ite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq, according to a source. The plan would authorize Iraqi Airways to fly to and from the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf.
The waiver is described as temporary, lasting about one month, with the possibility of a longer or more permanent arrangement later. The reports attribute the details to a person involved in the deliberations. Across outlets, the main focus is on US Treasury Department authorization and the narrow scope tied to pilgrimage travel, rather than broader changes to sanctions. The wording and emphasis differ slightly, but all accounts point to the same mechanism and route: Iraqi Airways operating flights connected to Najaf pilgrimages under a sanctions waiver.
