Washington, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The United States has removed Iraqi commercial airline Fly Baghdad and two of its aircraft from its sanctions list linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while clarifying that the move does not signal any change in Washington’s broader policy towards Tehran.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury said Fly Baghdad Airlines, also known as Iraq Express, along with two Boeing 737 aircraft, had been removed from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List on Wednesday.
The airline was placed under sanctions in January 2024 over allegations that it provided support to the IRGC’s Quds Force and Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
A US Treasury official said the decision followed an internal reconsideration process. However, the official stressed that the move should not be interpreted as a shift in US policy towards the Iranian government, the IRGC-Quds Force, designated terrorist organisations, or individuals supporting such entities.
The development comes amid diplomatic efforts over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said that an agreement with Iran could potentially be reached within days to restore movement through the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran and Oman had made progress in discussions on establishing a secure commercial shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei said the two countries had reached an understanding on the geographical coordinates of the proposed route and were working on a joint statement outlining the agreed points, provided that “certain third parties” did not obstruct the process.
He said Iran and Oman had been holding consultations for nearly two months, with Iranian authorities examining technical, legal, security and environmental aspects of the proposed arrangement.
However, Baghaei clarified that the understanding between Iran and Oman alone did not mean the strait had become safe for commercial shipping, alleging that US maritime restrictions and other actions against Iran continued to affect regional security.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained at the centre of tensions after Iran tightened controls over the waterway following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, leading to heightened concerns over global shipping and energy supplies.
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