Iraqi Airways is preparing to resume flights to Iran in October, Iraq’s transport ministry said on Tuesday, following a suspension of flights amid US sanctions restricting services to Iranian airlines.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, the ministry said Iraq had secured a special exemption allowing Iraqi Airways to operate services to Iran.

aq halted flights to and from Iran on Friday in line with US sanctions, and the government had sought exemptions for travel related to pilgrimage, medical treatment and education.

The transport ministry said services next month would initially operate from the Shia holy city of Najaf once regulatory and technical requirements were completed.

A source in the Iraqi transport ministry said the exemption was provided by the US Treasury and would run for one month. The number of allowed flights has not yet been determined, the source said.