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Iran Condemns U.S. Decision: Exemption Is Illegal
Tehran condemned the United States' decision not to renew the exemption granted to Iraq for importing electricity from Iran, describing the move as "illegal."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baqaei stated that these remarks are an acknowledgment of violating the law and crimes against humanity. He also emphasized that the unilateral U.S. sanctions against the Iranian people are unjustified and lack legal basis, stressing that the American step is "completely illegal," according to Agence France-Presse.
For its part, the U.S. State Department announced on Saturday that it has revoked the exemption that allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran, as part of the "maximum pressure" campaign led by U.S. President Donald Trump against Tehran.
While Baghdad confirmed that it had not been officially informed of the revocation decision, the "Oil and Gas Committee" in the Iraqi parliament indicated that it is moving towards importing gas from Gulf Arab countries.
Last Friday, the U.S. Secretary of State urged Iraq to stop relying on Iranian energy sources "as soon as possible," while the Iraqi government stated it had not received official threats from the U.S. president. However, Baghdad warned, for the first time, that halting Iranian gas imports without ready alternatives could lead to a collapse of the electricity network during the upcoming summer, which is usually hot in Iraq.
In this context, Iraqi government spokesman Basim al-Awadi announced on Saturday evening that Iraq had not received any official notice from the United States regarding the halt of Iranian gas imports. Al-Awadi clarified in a press statement that "dialogue and communication continue between Baghdad and Washington," emphasizing the importance of Iraq's stability as a key factor for regional stability.
