Iran allows Iraqi Airways to hold restricted flights to evacuate nationals
The Iranian civil aviation authority (CAO.IRI) has issued a certificate for Iraq’s flag carrier to conduct restricted flights from Iran to evacuate nationals amid a renewed surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
It was not specified in a Thursday statement by CAO.IRI how many flights the Iraqi Airways would be able to conduct from Iran as of October 9.
However, the permit comes days after Iranian authorities said they had revoked flight certificates for Iraqi Airways after the company violated the rules and carried visa-holding passengers from Iran.
It also comes amid an outright ban imposed on any flights by Iranian airlines to Iraq as the government has been seeking to stop the flow of Iranian pilgrims into the Arab country to mark a special religious occasion.
The CAO.IRI reiterated that the Iraqi Airways would only be allowed to evacuate nationals from Iran and flights would not accommodate Iranian passengers.
Millions of Iranians normally go to Iraq each year in days leading to and after Arba’een which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Imam Hussein (AS).
However, a renewed surge in the number of positive coronavirus cases in Iran has prompted the government to tighten restrictions on travel and movement.
State TV has been broadcasting footages showing all border crossings between Iran and Iraq are closed while the transportation ministry said one week before Arba’een, which fell on Thursday this year, that there would be no flights between the two countries during the special occasion.
Iranian health ministry said on Thursday that the number of coronavirus cases across the country had increased by 4,392 over the past 24 hours to reach 448,236. Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said deaths had also surged by 230 to 27,888 while there have been 399,300 recoveries.
Iran restores operations at its largest container port after explosion
Pezeshkian’s visit to Baku heralds new order in South Caucasus
Iran declares holiday in Bandar Abbas port as fire still raging
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | India-Pakistan tensions escalate after deadly Kashmir tourist attack
Iran FM, IAEA chief discuss latest state of cooperation
US airstrike on Yemeni capital kills 8 people
VIDEO | Iran multilayered diplomacy
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran more than halved its power grid losses to 10% in 16 years: Expert
Abbas names likely successor in move deemed ‘illegitimate, divisive’
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
