Washington removes sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad airline

Washington: The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions targeting Iraq's Fly Baghdad airline, a company it had previously designated for alleged links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In an update to its website, the US Treasury lifted sanctions on Fly Baghdad and two of its aircraft, but maintained its sanctions against a man previously identified as the company's owner, Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani.

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Washington had originally designated the airline, its aircraft and owner in January 2024, alleging that it provided support to the IRGC's Quds Force and its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

A US Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the airline had been removed after going through the department's administrative reconsideration process.

"FBA (Fly Baghdad Airlines) has demonstrated major changes to their operations such that their listing is no longer warranted," the official said.

They clarified that the removal was "not indicative of any shift in US policy toward the Government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, any designated terrorist organization, or any person who supports or acts on behalf of any of these."

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Since US President Donald Trump launched a war against Iran in late February, Washington has killed the country's top leadership and attempted to cripple its economy with sanctions and military strikes.

In retaliation, Tehran has virtually blocked the vital Strait of Hormuz through which about a fifth of the world's energy supplies normally pass and targeted US allies in the region.

Negotiations to end the war have been stop-start, with the status of Iran's nuclear program and the imposition of potential tolls on the Strait being key sticking points.