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Iraq bars Iranian football team’s plane from landing in Basra: Report
Iraq barred a plane carrying Iran’s national football team from landing at Basra airport on Tuesday, citing the risk of breaching US sanctions on Iranian airlines. The incident shows how the sanctions are affecting Iranian aviation and the team’s travel to an international tournament.
The plane returned to Iran and landed at Abadan, after which the team was expected to travel overland to Basra. Iran is due to join Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine in a four-nation tournament. The US has threatened sanctions against companies and airports that provide services to Iranian airlines, and Iraq suspended Iranian flights to Baghdad in September.
In short
- Iraq turned away Iran’s football team plane from Basra.
- The plane landed back in Iran at Abadan.
- The team will travel to the tournament by road.
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The case for
Iraq’s decision can be defended as a prudent effort to avoid exposing its airports and businesses to US sanctions, which could carry serious economic and diplomatic costs. Applying the restrictions consistently may also reduce the risk of penalties for services provided to Iranian airlines, even when the immediate disruption to the team is inconvenient.
The case against
The ban can be criticised as allowing US pressure to interfere with ordinary sporting travel and Iraq’s own control over its airports. The team’s journey was disrupted despite the availability of a less confrontational option, such as arranging permitted services or clarifying the rules in advance, and the incident illustrates the wider effects of sanctions on people not responsible for government policy.
Explained simply
US sanctions target some Iranian airlines, and the US has warned that companies and airports providing them with services could also face penalties. Iraq has previously suspended Iranian flights to Baghdad under this pressure.
Iran’s national team is due to take part in a four-nation football tournament with Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, with matches in Basra. The travel restrictions matter because they can affect how Iranian teams and airlines reach destinations abroad.
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