IRNA - Iraqi Airways Company, the national airline in the country, launched direct flights between the sacred city of Najaf in central-south Iraq and Ahvaz in southwestern Iran on Tuesday.


In a statement, Director of the Iraqi Airways Miran Farid said the move is aimed at boosting the company's activities in the region and across the globe, facilitating the transit of Iraqi nationals, fostering the country's tourism and economic infrastructures.

Annually, over four million Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq.

In the meantime, close to two million Iraqi tourists travel to Iran each year.