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Washington applies economic pressure on Tehran... Baghdad develops alternative plans for gas imports
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Trump administration's tightening of sanctions on Iran puts Iraq in a difficult position, forcing it to seek quick energy alternatives amid the country's ongoing electricity crisis
An official spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that President Donald Trump's administration has stopped extending exemptions granted to Iraq for importing electricity from Iran.
The spokesperson explained that the American administration is determined to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining any type of economic or financial relief.
He emphasized that "the President's maximum pressure campaign aims to end the Iranian nuclear threat, reduce its ballistic missile program, and prevent it from supporting terrorist groups."
The official spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Tammy Bruce, had reported on Saturday that the United States is reviewing all current exemptions from sanctions that provide Tehran with any amount of economic support, and urges Iraqi authorities to eliminate their dependence on Iranian energy sources at the earliest opportunity.
On Friday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent announced that pushing Iran toward bankruptcy again will form the starting point for the United States' revised policy in implementing sanctions.
In a related matter, Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi denied that Iraq had received an official notification canceling exemptions on imported Iranian gas, while noting that the government has prepared alternative plans to face any developments regarding the import of Iranian gas, according to the Iraqi News Agency.
