New exemptions to Iranian flight ban

The Civil Aviation Organization of Iran announced on Monday that it has received indications to resume flights to the Sultanate of Oman and Azerbaijan, marking two new exemptions from the American restrictions imposed on Iranian airlines. On Sunday, Iranian airlines resumed flights to Najaf airport in southern Iraq after Washington granted Baghdad a sanctions waiver allowing such operations to the city. In a related context, the head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization stated that about 100 aircraft were damaged in the recent conflict, fewer than 10 were completely destroyed, and 27 Iranian airports suffered damages. The Iranian official added that there are 150 aircraft in operational service, though this does not mean all of them are currently flying. He continued that according to planned strategies, the number of operational aircraft in the fleet will reach 200 over the next six months. The United States had previously given foreign companies providing assistance to Iran's aviation sector until September 23 to comply with the ban, such as stopping refueling services for Iranian aircraft. Non-compliance exposes those companies to the risk of being blacklisted and consequently isolated from the global dollar financial system.