Iraqi Airways has resumed flights between Najaf al-Ashraf airport and Iranian airports after being suspended on Friday over US sanctions, according to Iraq’s state news agency.

The announcement comes after hundreds protested against the suspension earlier today.

Four Iraqi airports, including Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, halted all flights to and from Iran on Friday, days after the US announced new aviation sanctions on any global company that does business with Iranian airlines.

On Saturday, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Baghdad was working to secure US exemptions for Iran flights to resume “on humanitarian grounds related to medical treatment, education, religious visits and the interests of civilians”.

On Monday evening, Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdulzahra Al Hajjaj, said that people in Iraq could expect flights to resume “within 24 hours”, according to Iraqi media.