Deputy Foreign Minister Hisham Al-Alawi
Media Monitor
Iraq seeks US exemption to keep importing Iranian gas, says official
BAGHDAD — Iraq has asked the United States to extend a waiver allowing the import of Iranian gas for another six months, citing urgent energy needs and the upcoming summer and parliamentary election in November, Deputy Foreign Minister Hisham Al-Alawi said in an interview with Alawla TV.
“For us in Iraq, the issue of continuing the exemption to import gas from Iran—needed to operate our gas power stations—is very important,” Al-Alawi stated. He explained that Iraq needs time to “become self-sufficient or find alternatives,” including boosting electricity imports from neighboring countries or treating associated gas domestically.
In March, Washington declined to renew a sanctions waiver that allowed Iraq to buy electricity from neighboring Iran ,which supplies a third of the country’s gas and electricity.
Al-Alawi added, “The American side promised to consider this request,” but noted that such decisions are made at high levels and that the current U.S. president may “use this as a bargaining chip” to negotiate other interests.
Excerpts from Hisham Al-Alawi’s interview with Alawla TV:
The United States is, for us in Iraq, an important country, and our relations are diverse, encompassing political, economic, security, educational, and cultural aspects. We also have a large Iraqi community in the United States. Therefore, it is natural for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iraqi government officials to engage with the new administration, especially under the current circumstances.
Iraq currently has a stable political and security situation compared to previous years, and it offers the regional countries and the world major economic opportunities in terms of work and investment projects. We believe it is in our interest to invest in this political and security stability and the major economic opportunities to strengthen our relations with important countries.
For us in Iraq, the issue of continuing the exemption to import gas from Iran—needed to operate our gas power stations—is very important. It was discussed, and the Iraqi perspective was presented, which is that Iraq needs time to become self-sufficient or find alternatives, or treat associated gas, or increase its electricity imports from neighboring countries—whether Arab states or Turkey—or find an alternative to the Iranian gas we import.
There is a particular urgency during the summer, when demand increases, and we also face an election season. For all these reasons, the Iraqi government has requested that the current U.S. administration take these circumstances into account and grant at least a six-month exemption.
The American side promised to consider this request. However, decisions in such matters are usually made at a high level, not just within the U.S. Treasury. Given the current circumstances and the nature of the new U.S. president, his approach, and his desire to exert more pressure on Iran, it is not expected that he will respond easily. He may try to use this as a bargaining chip in negotiations with us to secure certain issues he needs in exchange for approving our request.
