BAGHDAD, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Airways, the national carrier of Iraq, will resume direct flights to Iran starting Thursday, following recent regulatory exemptions, the Iraqi Transportation Ministry announced Monday.

The operating plan features regular daily flights connecting Iraq's Najaf International Airport with Iran's Mashhad, Tehran and Isfahan to facilitate the smooth flow of passengers and provide consistent air travel options, according to a ministry statement.

Iraq's Transportation Ministry said last week that Iraqi Airways is preparing to resume flights to Iran in October after obtaining a special exemption to operate the routes.

Najaf International Airport on Sunday received the first direct flight from Tehran, marking the official resumption of air travel between the two countries following a U.S. waiver, according to an airport statement.

Najaf International Airport suspended all incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran on Sept. 25, following the U.S. Treasury Department's recent sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, which suspended authorizations allowing non-U.S. airlines to operate U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran. ■

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