Iraq suspends flights to Iran over coronavirus concerns

Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-25 03:41:49|Editor: huaxia

BAGHDAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi authorities said on Thursday that the flights between Iraq and Iran will be suspended for 15 days.

A statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that the flights will be suspended from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, in response to an official request from the Iranian Aviation Authority.

The decision includes "all direct flights from local airports to the airports of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after the announcement of detecting coronavirus cases in some Iranian areas," the statement said.

On Sept. 19, the Iraqi Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided not to receive pilgrims from any country for the religious events in Iraq, including the major Shiite ritual of Arbaeen, in an attempt to contain the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the country.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi Health Ministry said that the total number of infections in the country has reached 337,106. Enditem

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