By John Lee. The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has reportedly suspended oil exports to Iran. According to Anadolu Agency, the KRG’s Ministry of Finance and Economy did not specify a reason for the move, and "it remains unclear whether the suspension is linked to U.S. sanctions on Iran." (Source: Anadolu Agency) (Source: Tasnim, under Creative […]
From The Economist. America is trying to get more out of its relationship with Iraq US President Donald Trump thinks America is being ripped off. “We have spent $7trn—trillion with a T—$7trn in the Middle East,” he told a crowd last year, exaggerating slightly. “You know what we have for it? Nothing. Nothing.” To right […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Alhakim [Mohammed Ali al-Hakim] (pictured) has been quoted as saying that Iraq is not obliged to abide by US sanctions against Iran. According to Rudaw, he told journalists on Wednesday: "These sanctions, the siege, or what is called the embargo, these are unilateral, not international. We […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. There is a fight over energy in Iraq between the US and Iran. Iraq relies on Iranian gas for nearly half of its energy - gas that is now subject to US sanctions […]
By John Lee. US Energy Secretary Rick Perry spent the last two days trying to convince the Iraqi government that it's in its best interest to cut energy ties with Iran. But according to a report from Washington Examiner, his efforts have had limited success. Perry tweeted: "In bilateral meetings with Iraqi President @BarhamSalih, Prime Minister […]
Iraq’s new Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Alhakim highlighted the importance of bilateral relations with Iran and said the Arab country cannot cut off its trade ties with the Islamic Republic due to the US sanctions. Alhakim pointed to Washington’s economic sanctions against Tehran and said, the value of annual trade between Iran and Iraq amount […]
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. As the United States enacts sanctions on Iran, Iran is increasing its influence in Iraq with plans for a railway that could work around US restrictions. The state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran […]
Iranian ambassador to Baghdad said Iran and Iraq are weighing plans to eliminate US dollar in trade transactions and also lift visa requirements for citizens of the two countries. Speaking at a TV program on Saturday night, Iraj Masjedi said Tehran and Baghdad are considering plans to use Iraqi dinar for trade transactions or develop […]
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action today to target four Hizballah-affiliated individuals who lead and coordinate the group’s operational, intelligence, and financial activities in Iraq. Specifically, OFAC designated Shibl Muhsin ‘Ubayd Al-Zaydi, Yusuf Hashim, Adnan Hussein Kawtharani, and Muhammad ‘Abd-Al-Hadi Farhat as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) […]
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has opted for the policy of his predecessor, Haider al-Abadi, by committing himself to the US sanctions on Iran. A few hours […]
Iraq Granted Exemption from US Sanctions on Iran’s Energy Exports Iraq will continue to have access to the energy it needs from Iran to generate and supply electricity, Brian Hook, the special representative for Iran at the US State Department, said. “Iraq has been granted an exemption” to the energy sanctions the US has re-imposed […]
The United States has told Iraq that it will be allowed to keep importing crucial gas, energy supplies and food items from Iran after Washington reimposes sanctions on Tehran’s oil sector, three Iraqi officials said. The waiver is conditional on Iraq not paying Iran for the imports in US dollars, said the officials, who included […]
