US sanctions ground Iran flights; Iraq airports suspend services

New US Treasury sanctions have led to the suspension of Iranian passenger flights to and from all four Iraqi airports (Baghdad, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil), as well as suspensions by Georgia and Azerbaijan. Iran has responded with threats of regional aviation disruption if its own flights are impeded, signaling a hardening posture against US pressure. The full operational impact and the exact nature of Iran's potential retaliation remain unclear.

Iran has threatened to expand the geographical scope of conflict to the Indian Ocean and disrupt regional aviation in response to new US sanctions. While US sanctions have significantly impacted Iran's international flights, the threats of broader maritime and aviation retaliation remain rhetorical, signaling a hardening of Iran's posture.