US sanctions halt Iranian flights to Iraq, Oman, Qatar, affecting travelers

US sanctions on Iran's aviation industry forced Iranian airlines to cancel some international flights effective Wednesday, aiming to cripple Iran's economy. Flights to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan were suspended, while routes to China, Turkey, Armenia and some to Istanbul remained possible, according to a Tehran travel agent speaking to AFP. A Mahan Air flight from Tehran still landed in Guangzhou on Wednesday, and a flight to Shanghai was scheduled to depart.

For Nigerian travelers, especially Muslims planning to visit Najaf for pilgrimage or conduct business, these disruptions mean possible flight cancellations or the need to reroute via Najaf, which Iranian authorities are discussing as an alternative for Baghdad flights. Some Iraqi travel agents reported panicked clients switching to longer land routes due to fears of cancellations.

Travelers should verify flight status directly with airlines, consider alternative airports like Najaf for Iraq-bound trips, and monitor updates from Iranian civil aviation. China has denounced the US sanctions as illegal, adding diplomatic complexity to the situation.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/23/iran-airlines-cancel-flights-as-us-sanctions-hit/