Iraq will exchange food with Iranian gas and seek US approval

Iraq will exchange food with Iranian gas and seek US approval

2018/11/14 17:31

Iraq will exchange food with Iranian gas and seek US approval[BAGHDAD – Ayna]
Iraqi government officials said on Wednesday that Iraq had agreed with Iran to swap Iraqi food products with Iranian gas and energy supplies.
They said Baghdad was currently seeking US approval to allow it to import Iranian gas used in power plants in the country and needed more time to find an alternative source. The sources are two senior government officials and two members of the Iraqi Ministerial Energy Committee.
“The 45-day US deadline to stop the import of Iranian gas is completely inadequate for Iraq to find an alternative source,” the official said.
“Stop the import of Iranian gas after the deadline will create a real electricity crisis. “We need more time … Americans are fully aware of how much we need Iranian gas.”
Washington gave Iraq an exemption from importing Iranian gas, energy and food products when US sanctions on Iran’s oil sector resumed last week.
But the United States says the exemption is only 45 days.
Iraq relies heavily on Iranian gas to feed its power plants.
The second official said Iraq would submit a request to the United States to allow imports after the deadline.
He said that Iraq will provide in return for gas “food and humanitarian for Iran … Iran accepted this proposal.”

alliraqnews.com