The office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed that Baghdad is holding direct discussions with Washington to protect certain aviation hubs from being penalized by US sanctions. The Iraqi government is seeking to shield several airports from recent measures by the US Treasury that target facilities assisting or hosting aircraft from Iran.

Baghdad requested these exemptions to restore flights for humanitarian reasons, specifically for civilian needs such as medical treatment, education, and religious travel. The Iraqi government also called for broader negotiations to reduce regional tensions on Saturday, stating that ongoing crises have further complicated the situation.