On 28 September, Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) carried the Najaf protest’s closing statement demanding immediate cancellation of restrictions on Iranian flights through Iraqi airports. It also called for independent Iraqi decision-making, access for Iranian shrine visitors, support for Iran’s people, and a boycott of the policies of states it accused of mass attacks on Palestinians, Iranians, Lebanese and Iraqis. Shabab al-Islam (Ashab al-Kahf — owned, non-official) separately relayed Iraqi leaders’ support for seeking an exception for Najaf airport from U.S. Treasury measures concerning Iranian airlines.
- Shabab al-IslamAshab al-Kahf — owned, non-official28 Sept, 19:43
“Support for the Iraqi government’s request to exempt Najaf airport from U.S. Treasury measures concerning flights by Iranian airlines.”
دعم مطلب الحكومة العراقية في استثناء مطار النجف من إجراءات وزارة الخزانة الأمريكية بشأن رحلات شركات الطيران الإيرانية
- Al-Nujaba TVNujaba — official28 Sept, 21:10
“Fully uphold independent Iraqi decision-making... immediately cancel the ban on Iranian flights through Iraqi airports... provide necessary support to the people of the Islamic Republic... boycott and oppose the policies of states involved in acts of mass killing and collective attacks against the Palestinian, Iranian, Lebanese and Iraqi peoples.”
الالتزام التام باستقلالية القرار العراقي ... الالغاء الفوري لقرار حظر الطيران الايراني عبر المطارات العراقية ... تقديم الدعم اللازم لشعب الجمهورية الاسلامية ... ندعو إلى مقاطعة ومناهضة سياسات الدول المتورطة في أعمال الإبادة والاستهداف الجماعي بحق الشعب الفلسطيني والإيراني واللبناني والعراقي
An airport-specific exception would not meet the full geographic scope of the protesters’ stated demand.