The US Treasury announced the removal of Fly Baghdad from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, along with two Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline was added to the sanctions list in January 2024 for allegedly aiding Iran's Quds Force in transporting fighters, weapons, and equipment across the region, according to Iranian media reports. The formal delisting follows earlier reports of sanctions relief on IRGC-linked entities.
The US Treasury formally announced Wednesday evening the removal of Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, along with two Boeing 737 aircraft. The official confirmation marks the latest development in a series of reports of sanctions relief on entities linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The thread began earlier Wednesday at 17:14 Jerusalem with unverified reports that Fly Baghdad and IRGC-linked corporations had been removed from sanctions lists. At the same time, reports emerged that the US had lifted sanctions on three IRGC-linked entities. Shortly after, Reuters confirmed that the US had lifted sanctions on several IRGC-linked entities. Jewish Breaking News then reported specifically that the US had lifted terror sanctions on Fly Baghdad, an airline accused of aiding Iran's Quds Force in transferring fighters, weapons, and equipment. The US Treasury's confirmation now provides official corroboration, specifying the inclusion of the two Boeing 737s.
The delisting comes amid a broader and seemingly contradictory US posture toward Iran. As The Zioneer reported on July 8, the US Treasury canceled all prior authorizations for Iranian oil exports, deepening sanctions. In late July, the Treasury imposed new sanctions on Mahan Air support networks. Simultaneously, reports of a draft US-Iran MOU and sanctions relief on IRGC entities have circulated, suggesting a possible diplomatic track. The removal of Fly Baghdad, an airline flagged for transporting operatives and weapons for the Quds Force, represents a significant rollback of a specific counterterror sanction.
The US Treasury has not publicly explained the rationale for the delisting. It remains unclear whether the removal is part of a broader agreement with Iran or a separate administrative action. The confirmation was reported by Iranian media, but no official statement from the US Treasury has been published beyond the SDN list update.
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