Iraqi authorities denied landing permission at Basra Airport, forcing the Iranian national squad to turn back and complete travel by road.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iraqi authorities on Tuesday denied landing clearance to an aircraft carrying Iran’s national football squad at Basra Airport, citing restrictions tied to United States sanctions on Iranian carriers.
The charter flight was turned away before landing and rerouted to Abadan Airport across the border in southwestern Iran. An Iranian consulate official based in Basra confirmed that the delegation will now cross the border and complete the remainder of the journey by road.
Iran is scheduled to participate in an international four-nation tournament hosted in the southern city of Basra, alongside national teams from Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.
An Iraqi civil aviation official stated that authorities took the measure to eliminate any risk of violating Washington’s secondary sanctions on Iranian aviation operations.
The move reflects the escalating operational impact of United States sanctions targeting Iran’s transport sector. In September, Washington unveiled punitive measures penalizing foreign companies doing business with Iranian commercial carriers, aiming to ground the fleet internationally.
Iraq previously suspended Iranian flights into Baghdad Airport after the US administration warned that foreign ground-handling firms and facilities dealing with sanctioned carriers could face secondary penalties. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that foreign airports servicing Iranian aircraft risk losing full access to the US dollar financial system.
The aviation restrictions form a central component of an expanded American economic campaign against Tehran, as President Donald Trump attempts to force a conclusion to the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.
