Iran’s Football Team Denied Direct Flight To Basra
Varesh Airlines says Iraqi bodies canceled the flight at the last minute despite earlier approval, as the team heads to a four-nation tournament in Basra
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Iran’s national football team did not get permission for a direct flight to Basra and will instead fly to Abadan in Iran and then travel by road to the Iraqi city to take part in a four-nation tournament, ISNA reported on Tuesday. Iranian airline Varesh Airlines, which was to carry the squad, said in a statement that it had received approval from Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority for a direct Tehran-Basra flight, but that Iraqi state bodies canceled the flight at the last moment, contrary to earlier coordination.
Varesh said the team’s flight to Abadan would go ahead as scheduled and without delay, and that the squad would continue to Basra by road.
The airline said it regrets “this unconventional action” and will follow up through the relevant authorities. Iraqi officials had not commented on the statement, yet.
The tournament, scheduled for November 9 to 17 at Basra International Stadium, features Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Palestine as preparation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, according to Tehran Times, and Iran opens against Palestine.
It is the first time in more than 25 years that an Iranian national team will play on Iraqi soil, according to a sports news site.
The flight issue comes after the US Treasury announced sanctions on September 8 on 36 entities linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airlines, and Iraq halted all flights to and from Iran at four airports on September 25. Iraq then obtained a US exemption allowing Iranian airlines, excluding Mahan Air, to operate 40 flights a day to Najaf, and flights there resumed, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
Basra airport had handled no Iranian flights for some time before that, according to Iraqi media.