ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A senior member of Iraq’s Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba militia on Wednesday accused Baghdad of “acceding to the Zionist-American enemy and submitting to its dictates,” after Baghdad airport stopped receiving Iranian flights in light of tightened US sanctions, calling on religious and tribal entities to stand against the “unjust blockade.”

Iran’s civil aviation authority announced on Tuesday that Baghdad and Muscat airports “will no longer receive flights from Iran” starting at midnight, with Tehran coordinating to redirect flights bound for Baghdad to Najaf airport instead. 

The decision came a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that all Iranian airlines will be “shut down around the world” starting on Wednesday, as part of economic outcast sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In a statement, Nazem al-Saeedi, head of Nujaba’s executive council, rejected Baghdad’s move, saying that “acceding to the Zionist-American enemy and submitting to its dictates stands in complete contradiction to Iraq’s claims of sovereignty.”

“Has Iraq become a province subordinate to America, acceding to its political and economic demands without condition or reservation?” He asked rhetorically.

Saeedi called on Iraq’s religious and tribal institutions to “stand united against this unjust blockade imposed upon Muslim people.”

Earlier on Wednesday, a source familiar with the development told Iraqi state media that the suspension of Iranian flights is due to private ground-handling service companies at Iraqi airports “declining to provide services” over fears of American sanctions.

The move comes amid an approaching September 30 deadline set by Baghdad for armed militias in the country to hand over weapons to the state, heavily backed by the US, which has long pushed for those groups – many of whom have strong ties to Iran – to be disarmed.

In late August, Washington announced ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ a large-scale sanctions package on Iran that seeks to clamp down on third parties that directly and indirectly support the Iranian regime by facilitating its oil exports and shadow economy.

In May, Bessent warned that Washington would shut down Iranian airlines’ access to landing spots as part of its pressure campaign against Tehran.

On Thursday, the sanctioned Mahan Air, with alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that it will be suspending flights to destinations in Turkey and Oman, coming as Washington continues to pressure third countries to sever ties with Tehran.