Fly Baghdad sanctions lifted by US Treasury

The US Treasury lifted sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad airline and two of its aircraft on Wednesday, while keeping sanctions on Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, a man previously identified as the company's owner.

Washington had designated the airline, its aircraft and its owner in January 2024, alleging that Fly Baghdad provided support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force and proxy groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

A US Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the airline was removed after going through the department's administrative reconsideration process. The official said Fly Baghdad had shown “major changes to their operations” and that its listing was no longer warranted.

The official said the removal did not indicate any shift in US policy toward Iran, the IRGC-Quds Force, any designated terrorist organisation or anyone supporting or acting on behalf of them.