The United States has removed counterterrorism sanctions from Fly Baghdad, an Iraqi airline previously accused of transporting weapons, fighters, and funds for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and its proxies across the region, according to a report by Jewish Breaking News. The move follows a broader US sanctions relief on IRGC-linked entities reported by Reuters earlier Wednesday.
The United States has lifted counterterrorism sanctions on Fly Baghdad, an Iraqi airline that had been designated under counterterrorism authorities for allegedly transporting weapons, fighters, and funds for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and its regional proxies. The development was first reported by Jewish Breaking News on Wednesday afternoon.
The move is part of a broader pattern of US sanctions relief on IRGC-linked entities. Earlier Wednesday, Reuters reported that the United States had removed sanctions on several entities tied to the IRGC, though the specific entities were not named at the time. The lifting of sanctions on Fly Baghdad appears to be one of those actions, marking a significant shift in US policy toward entities previously accused of directly supporting the IRGC's Quds Force, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington.
Fly Baghdad had been sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2023 for its role in transporting weapons and personnel for the IRGC-QF, according to prior US government statements. The airline's removal from the sanctions list allows it to resume normal financial and commercial operations with US entities, a move that is likely to draw criticism from those who argue it undermines pressure on Tehran.
The Zioneer previously reported on the broader US sanctions relief on IRGC-linked entities, citing Reuters. The current decision comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, including recent military exchanges and ongoing diplomatic efforts. The precise terms of the sanctions relief for Fly Baghdad have not been independently confirmed, and the US Treasury has not yet issued a public statement.
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