Iran's football team's plane returns after entry denied in Iraq due to US sanctions
The Iranian national football team was forced to travel to Iraq by road after their flight was denied landing rights in Basra. Iraqi authorities cited the risk of violating US sanctions on Iranian aviation as the reason for the denial.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the real-world impact of US secondary sanctions on international travel and sports diplomacy.
Iraq barred a plane carrying Iran’s national football team from landing at Basra airport on Tuesday, citing concerns over US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines, two Basra airport officials told Reuters.The aircraft returned to Iran and landed at Abadan airport. The team then travelled by road to Basra.The team then took a bus and entered Iraq through the Shalamcheh border crossing.The Iranian team was travelling to Basra to take part in a four-nation football tournament featuring Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.An Iraqi civil aviation official told Reuters that the decision was taken because the country could not risk violating US sanctions on Iranian airlines.US sanctions affect Iranian aviation operationsThe incident comes as Washington steps up restrictions on Iran’s aviation sector.
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