After weeks of speculation, the United States has made its decision: Baghdad is no longer allowed to import energy from Iran. This decision comes while Iraq has yet to settle its massive debt of over 10 billion euros for purchasing Iranian gas. Now, as part of its pressure campaign against Tehran, Washington has also forced Baghdad to comply with oil sanctions.
🔴 The End of a Vital Exemption
On Saturday, the U.S. State Department announced that Iraq’s sanctions waiver for paying for electricity imports from Iran will not be extended. This waiver, which began in 2018 alongside the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, had allowed Iraq to continue purchasing electricity from Iran. It was renewed every 120 days—until now, when Washington decided to put an end to it.
🔴 Washington: Tehran Must Not Gain Any Advantage
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department emphasized immediately after the decision that the United States will not allow Iran to benefit from any financial or economic relief. Accusing Tehran of posing a nuclear threat, expanding its missile program, and supporting armed groups in the region, he stated:
💬 “Our policy is clear: preventing Iran from gaining any economic benefits from international interactions.”
🔴 Iraqi Concerns Over Power Outages
Iraqi officials, who had been worried about this decision for months, are now facing a new crisis. Iraq is heavily dependent on imported electricity from Iran, and cutting off this supply could create significant challenges in ensuring the country’s power supply.
Now, Iraq must quickly find alternatives for electricity supply—but will that be an easy task?
