President Donald Trump called Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi a “fantastic guy” after their U.N.-week meeting as Baghdad opened direct talks with Washington seeking humanitarian exemptions from U.S. sanctions that have halted Iranian airline service to Iraqi airports.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
President Donald Trump praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday as Baghdad simultaneously sought exemptions from the Trump administration’s escalating sanctions against Iranian commercial aviation.
Trump described his meeting with al-Zaidi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this week as a success, continuing a relationship that began when Trump publicly backed al-Zaidi before he became prime minister.
“It went great. He’s a fantastic man. He’s a friend of mine. I endorsed him, right? I mean, I endorsed him, the Iraqi prime minister, he’s a fantastic guy,” Trump said Saturday when reporters asked about the meeting.
Trump and al-Zaidi met Wednesday in New York and discussed U.S.-Iraq relations and additional cooperation between the two countries.
Trump had publicly supported al-Zaidi in May while he was Iraq’s prime minister-designate. Al-Zaidi emerged as the candidate of Iraq’s Coordination Framework after months of political negotiations following parliamentary elections, and Trump said at the time that the United States strongly supported him.
The relationship is now being tested by Washington’s expanding economic campaign against neighboring Iran.
Al-Zaidi’s office announced Saturday that the Iraqi government is directly negotiating with the United States over exemptions that would permit Iranian airlines to resume serving certain Iraqi airports for civilian and humanitarian purposes.
“The Iraqi government is conducting direct dialogue with the American side to exempt some Iraqi airports from these measures, in a manner that allows the resumption of air travel, for humanitarian reasons related to treatment, study, religious visits, and civilian interests,” the Iraq Prime Minister’s Office said Saturday.
Iranian airlines have traditionally carried Iraqi Shiite pilgrims to religious sites in Iran as well as Iranian pilgrims traveling to holy cities in Iraq. The routes are also used by students and patients traveling for medical treatment. Najaf is a particularly important destination for Iranian service.
The restrictions stem from the Treasury Department’s Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign launched in August to isolate Iran financially and target businesses, financial institutions and other entities dealing with Tehran.
On Sept. 8, the Treasury Department sanctioned 36 targets connected to Iran’s aviation sector, including all 27 Iranian airlines that had not already been sanctioned under the relevant aviation authorities. Treasury accused Iranian commercial aviation networks of supporting weapons procurement, transportation of personnel and other activities benefiting the Iranian government and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent subsequently warned governments, airports and companies that continuing to service Iranian airlines could expose them to U.S. sanctions.
“On September 23, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent said.
He said airports and businesses dealing with the carriers could face consequences extending beyond the airlines themselves, including restrictions involving the U.S. financial system.
“If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets or you will be knocked out of the dollar system,” Bessent said.
The sanctions have already disrupted Iranian aviation throughout the region.
Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates were among countries enforcing restrictions on Iranian carriers this week, while other regional aviation hubs have reduced or eliminated service involving Iranian airlines.
Iraqi officials said the resulting interruption has particularly affected travelers using Najaf, including religious pilgrims, students and patients. Some Iraqis receiving medical treatment in Iran have faced lengthy overland journeys after flights were suspended.
Baghdad emphasized that its request for exemptions is part of a broader effort to prevent further regional escalation rather than a rejection of its relationship with Washington.
“While the Iraqi government is working to de-escalate the situation in the region, it affirms that the continuation of crises complicates the scene further, and calls on all parties to engage in dialogue and negotiation to reach solutions that end the current crisis and conflicts, in a way that achieves the interests of the region’s countries and peoples,” al-Zaidi’s office said.
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