Trump cancels US exemption for Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran

Trump cancels US exemption for Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran

2025-02-05 03:08

Trump cancels US exemption for Iraq to import electricity and gas from IranShafaq News/ US President Donald Trump canceled, on Wednesday, the exemption granted to Iraq to import electricity and gas from Iran, as part of the new package of sanctions on Iran.

The memorandum signed by Trump, which aims to exert maximum pressure on Iran, included “taking immediate steps, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant agencies, to ensure that the Iraqi financial system is not used by Iran to evade or circumvent sanctions, and that the Gulf States are not used as shipping points to evade sanctions.”

The paragraphs in the memorandum, part of which was translated by Shafaq News Agency, stipulated the following: Review any general license, frequently asked question, or other guidance that provides Iran or any of its terrorist proxies with any degree of economic or financial relief for the purpose of modifying or canceling it, and modifying or canceling exemptions from sanctions, especially those that provide Iran with any degree of economic or financial relief, including those related to the Iranian Chabahar port project.

It also included “implementing a vigorous and sustained campaign, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant executive departments or agencies (the Agencies), to drive Iran’s oil exports to zero, including Iranian crude oil exports to the People’s Republic of China.”

It also includes “taking immediate steps, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant agencies, to ensure that Iran does not use the Iraqi financial system to evade or circumvent sanctions, and that the Gulf States are not used as a transshipment point to evade sanctions.”

For many years, Iraq has relied on importing electricity and gas from Iran, especially during the peak of summer, and thus relies on the ongoing American exemptions, which are issued more than once each year.

Recently, Iraq has moved to import gas from Turkmenistan, and it will also pass through Iranian pipelines, but it has not yet been implemented due to logistical and financial problems.

shafaq.com