Chatham House researcher Haider Shakri stated that Iraq is caught in a dilemma: on one hand, its close relationship with Iran, and on the other, its cooperation with the United States in enforcing harsh sanctions against Iran, including suspending Iranian flights. The Iraqi prime minister seems very willing to cooperate with the US, but at the same time, Iraq and Iran have cultural, religious, political, and economic ties. Dozens of flights between the two countries carry hundreds of passengers daily, ranging from students and patients to religious visitors and businesspeople. Iraq is negotiating directly with the US, seeking exemptions for some airports from sanctions against Iranian airlines. With war raging in the Middle East and tensions between the US and Iran reaching extreme levels, Iraq is caught in the middle, facing a difficult choice.