INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
MADRID The information workplace of the President of the Economic Commission of the Iraqi Parliament announced that Atwan al-Atwani met with
Daniel Rubinstein, the Charg dAffaires of the United States Embassy, and his delegation.During the meeting, marked by the growing financial
pressure on Iraq, bilateral relations and the sanctions enforced by Washington on the Islamic Republic of Iran were discussed
These restrictions threaten to intensify the already precarious energy scenario in Iraq, especially at a critical moment for the countrys
electricity supply.Al-Atwani emphasized the need to maintain a consistent communication channel with the United States however likewise
warned about the consequences of disrupting Iranian gas imports
Iraq greatly depends on this supply to sustain its electrical grid, and the expiration of the sanctions waiver approved by Washington could
result in massive power blackouts throughout the summer season, affecting countless people in the middle of increasing temperatures.The U.S
sanctions policy has placed Baghdad in a hard dilemma
While Iraq struggles to restore its economy and support its energy infrastructure, Washingtons restrictions complicate access to vital
Regional analysts mention that the U.S
stance of severing Iraqs ties with Iran is not based upon a practical approach but rather on a geopolitical pressure strategy that
disregards the realities of the Iraqi energy market.In this context, al-Atwani made it clear to Rubinstein that there are no short-term
feasible alternatives to replacing Iranian gas
Price quotes suggest that a complete replacement would take between 3 to four years, and any attempt at a hasty disconnection would have
Iraq discovers itself caught between Washingtons geopolitical interests and the urgent requirement to secure electrical energy supply for
its population.Despite Baghdads demand, the United States has actually decided not to restore a sanctions waiver going back to 2018, when
Washington reimposed constraints on Tehran after Trumps withdrawal from the nuclear handle Iran
This waiver allowed Iraq to buy electrical energy from Iran, in line with the previous presidents maximum pressure policy on Tehran.In a
statement issued on Sunday, the U.S
State Department explained that the decision not to restore the waiver was made to ensure we do not allow Iran any degree of financial or
In the immediate term, the lack of Iranian gas imports might cause a severe energy deficit for Iraq
According to Ahmad Moussa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Electricity of Iraq, if gas imports are likewise prohibited, the country could
lose more than 30% of its electrical energy supply
The government, he said, is seeking alternatives
Additionally, senior authorities from the Ministry of Electricity mentioned that Iraq could lose about 8,000 megawatts of power from plants
running on Iranian gas and another 500 megawatts of electricity supplied directly by Iran.Three Iraqi energy sector authorities who
consulted with Reuters agreed that the nation has no immediate options to replace the energy imported from Iran, which will create a
significant problem in conference domestic electrical power demand
On the other hand, lots of Iraqis count on diesel generators or face temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius during the summer season,
even more worsening the nations energy crisis.Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi revealed his regret through the social networks
platform X after knowing of the U.S
decision, specifying: It is very regrettable that the U.S
federal government has actually decided to deny the innocent people of Iraq of access to fundamental services like electricity, especially
on the eve of the coming warm months of the year
Araghchi even more stressed: We wait the Iraqi people and declare our commitment to the Iraqi government to act against the illegal
measures of the United States
Washingtons rejection to renew sanctions exemptions for Iraq has actually stimulated an agreement amongst numerous analysts about the
consequences of this choice, which could activate an extraordinary internal crisis in the country
With the hot season and summer fast approaching, the absence of access to energy could lead to extensive unrest in Iraq, a nation already
facing substantial obstacles in terms of energy facilities and standard services.In response, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein
acknowledged the growing pressure from the United States but emphasized that Baghdad will not totally align with Trumps anti-Iran strategy
Hussein firmly insisted that Iraq will continue to look for a balance in its relationships with both Washington and Tehran, regardless of
the troubles this may entail.Iraqi authorities now find themselves at an important crossroads, dealing with tough choices that could mark a
turning point for the nation
Whatever choice they make, whether it is to defy U.S
sanctions and continue importing gas from Iran or to comply with them and cut imports, both paths bring significant risks and will present
unprecedented challenges for the Iraqi government.
