Washington is awaiting the formation of a “credible government” in Iraq to take this decision
Washington is awaiting the formation of a “credible government” in Iraq to take this decision
04/27/2020 10:58:37
(International: Al Furat News) A US State Department official said that the United States renewed an exception allowing Iraq to import electricity from Iran, but for a shorter period this time.
The official added that Washington would reassess the possibility of renewing the exception again once a “credible government” was formed in Iraq.
“The secretary of state granted this short extension of the exception to allow time for the formation of a credible government” in Iraq, the official said, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
He indicated that this exception would expire on May 26.
Washington has repeatedly extended the exception it gives to Baghdad, which requires the use of important Iranian energy supplies for the Iraqi electricity grid, and the exception has been extended for periods ranging from 90 to 120 days.
The United States insisted that Iraq, the oil producing country and member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), move towards energy self-sufficiency as a condition to exclude it from importing Iranian energy.
Earlier this month, the president of the republic commissioned intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kazemi to form a new government, the third figure charged with forming the government in ten weeks, at a time when the country is doing its best to form a government to replace the government that fell last year after months of protests that saw deaths.
“If this government takes over its work, the Secretary of State will re-evaluate whether the exception will be renewed and for how long,” said the State Department official.
Relations between Washington and Baghdad were strained after the United States said it was disappointed that Iraqi forces had failed to protect American forces stationed in Iraq.
Forces have been several rocket attacks this year alone , the United States blames them on armed factions backed
alforatnews.com
