Adnan Faihan Al-Dulaimi, the First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, strongly criticized the recent decision by the Iraqi government to suspend Iranian flights, deeming it hasty and unprofessional.
Criticism of the Hasty Decision
Al-Dulaimi emphasized in his statements that decisions should be made based on national interests and the legal commitments of this country. He clarified that unilateral sanctions from the United States cannot be considered an international obligation for Iraq, and therefore, legal documentation is needed to justify any anti-Iranian actions.
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He also pointed to the consequences of this ban on the movement of Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims, stating: "This ban will affect the movement of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims between the two countries."
Impacts on the Energy and Pilgrimage Sectors
Al-Dulaimi referred to Iraq's heavy dependence on Iranian natural gas and called for specific explanations from the Iraqi government regarding the potential scenario in case of a halt in gas exports from Iran. He warned that cutting off Iranian gas could lead to a loss of 30 to 40 percent of Iraq's electricity grid capacity.
The First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament also noted that stopping the import of Iranian gas could result in increased electricity blackout hours and paralyze public services such as hospitals and water supply stations.
Following these developments, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced on Friday, October 3, the suspension of the display and sale of tickets for flights to Iraq, especially Najaf Ashraf, until further notice and emphasized the full refund of tickets for suspended flights.
Al-Dulaimi, pointing to the negative consequences of this decision, asked: "What is the government's plan to compensate tourism companies, hoteliers, and businesses affected by this decision?" He added that the suspension of Iranian flights will directly negatively impact the pilgrimage tourism sector and commercial revenues.
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