Iraq's Najaf airport suspends flights to, from Iran

BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Najaf International Airport in central Iraq suspended all incoming and outgoing flights to and from Iran from early Friday until further notice, the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

The suspension took effect at 2:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday) under official instructions from relevant authorities, INA cited an airport administration statement as saying.

Airlines and relevant operating companies were told not to take any operational measures regarding the suspended flights, and will be officially notified of any subsequent instructions on resuming services, it said.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, suspending authorizations that allowed non-U.S. airlines to fly U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial aircraft into Iran.