Adnan Fayhan, the First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, reacted in a statement to the ban on Iranian civilian flights at Iraqi airports. He considered this action hasty and contrary to the principles of the Iraqi constitution, emphasizing the need to support the close relations between the two countries.
Common Links between Iran and Iraq
In this statement, Fayhan referred to the geographical, religious, and social ties between the two countries, stating that these commonalities necessitate that the government and people of Iraq stand by their Muslim neighbor. He reminded that Iran has previously assisted Iraq in combating Takfiri groups and has played an important role in meeting this country's energy needs.
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Contradiction with the Constitution and Economic Consequences
The First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament referred to Article 8 of the constitution of this country, which emphasizes the observance of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. According to him, unilateral U.S. sanctions cannot be considered an international obligation for Iraq, and there must be an Iraqi legal basis to justify actions against Iran.
Fayhan also pointed to the economic consequences of this ban, stating that this decision harms one of the important sectors of the national economy, namely religious tourism. He warned that the reduction in tourism revenues and losses for airlines and travel agencies would be direct consequences of this ban.
This Iraqi official asked the Iraqi government what its plans are to compensate for the damages caused by this decision and what measures it will take if Iran decides to respond in kind. He emphasized that the halt of Iranian gas exports could lead to a 30 to 40 percent reduction in the operational capacity of Iraq's electricity network, resulting in increased power outages and paralysis of vital sectors in the country.
Finally, Fayhan announced that if this decision does not change, the Iraqi Parliament is ready to hold an extraordinary session and take oversight actions. He stressed that Iraq's decisions must be independent and based on the values and legal principles of this country and that Iraq should not be allowed to be besieged by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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