Iraq barred Iran's national soccer team from landing at Basra International Airport on Nov. 10 over concerns that allowing the flight would violate U.S. sanctions against Iranian airlines, according to Iraqi civil aviation officials cited by Reuters.
￭ Previous attempts to restrict Iranian flights to Najaf prevented a religious pilgrimage to Karbala and caused widespread protests, with Iraqis taking to the streets and occupying airports in opposition to the US-backed governments' compliance with Washington's demands. The leaders of the Iraqi Islamic resistance factions also condemned the measures, and warned against decisions that further strengthen American hegemony over Iraq and the wider region.