US ends permission for Iraq to buy electricity from Iran

(CLO) The administration of President Donald Trump on Saturday revoked a waiver allowing Iraq to pay for electricity from Iran, as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, according to a US State Department spokesman.

The decision not to renew the waiver when it expires is aimed at ensuring that Iran does not receive any economic or financial support, a State Department spokesperson said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during a meeting in Tehran last December. Photo: Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran

Shortly after returning to the White House in January, President Trump revived his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. During his first term, he withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, an international agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

The US administration has said it wants to isolate Iran from the global economy and eliminate revenue from its oil exports, in order to slow down its nuclear program.

Iran denies possessing nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

President Trump initially granted waivers to some countries to meet their energy needs when he reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy sector in 2018. His and President Joe Biden’s administrations have since repeatedly extended waivers for Iraq, while urging Baghdad to reduce its dependence on Iranian electricity.

The US State Department reiterated this call on Saturday: “We call on the Government of Iraq to end its dependence on Iranian energy as soon as possible.

Washington is also using the waiver review process as a way to pressure Iraq to boost Kurdistan oil exports through Türkiye, a move aimed at increasing international supply and keeping electricity prices under control.

Cao Phong (according to AJ, CNN, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-cham-dut-viec-cho-phep-iraq-mua-dien-tu-iran-post337694.html