The Trump administration has ended the exemption that allows the Iraqi government to purchase Iran’s electricity in new efforts to suffocate Iran’s interests.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shea al-Sudani that the end of the waiver coincides with President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran as the administration goes all-in to prevent the administration from gaining nuclear weapons.
“The Waltz welcomed the Iraqi Prime Minister’s efforts to achieve Iraq’s energy independence and encouraged the Iraqi government to welcome more Western and US energy companies to Iraq’s oil and gas sector.”
The Waltz also urged the Iraqi government to resolve a conflict with the Kurdistan region, which has suffocated the oil flow from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Turkey for years, allowing the region to continue to rely on Iranian oil.
This is part of a global push for Iran and Russia to increase oil supply and keep prices down in an effort to starve fuel profits.
Iran is already rich in uranium, making it 60% closer to weapons. (Iranian atomic energy organization, file via AP)
“The national security advisors have urged the Iraqi government to work with the local government of Kurdistan to deal with the remaining contract disputes and pay US energy companies arrears, and requested that the Iraqi government retain investment coordinators to work with US companies seeking investment and operation in Iraq.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader rejects nuclear talks with us after Trump’s overture
Trump first issued Iraq’s sanctions immunity when he began applying “maximum pressure” to Iran during his first administration.
The exemption only applies to electricity, and Iraq’s dependence on Iraq has dropped sharply to 4%. But if the new move expands to include gas used in power plants, a spokesman for Ahmad Musa, a spokesman for Iraq’s Ministry of Power, said the country is looking for alternatives.
“There are two ways you can handle Iran – military, or you do a trade. I prefer to do a trade…” – President Donald Trump
Former President Joe Biden continued to renew his exemption until expiration Saturday.
The US makes significant use of Iraq. With a $100 billion reserve in the US, Washington was able to use its use in an increasingly robust grip on Iraqi leaders. The United States still has a military presence of around 2,500 staff stationed in Iraq to help fight against ISIS.
Iran can use newly enriched uranium to manufacture six nuclear weapons, according to a report from the United Nations Atomic Agency
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has taken away the Trump administration’s efforts to invite them to the negotiation table. (Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout / Anadoru via Getty Images)
Trump revealed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pushing Tehran to agree to a nuclear deal.
“I wrote them and I’m saying that if we have to go militarily, it’s going to be scary for them, so I’m hoping you will negotiate,” Trump told Fox Business on Friday. “There are two ways to deal with Iran – military or you do the deal,” Trump said. “I prefer to make a deal because I’m not trying to hurt Iran.”
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz informed the Iraqi Prime Minister over the weekend of the end of the sanctions immunity. (John Nasion/Getty Images)
Nuclear experts say Iran has already enriched uranium to 60%, a few days or weeks away from its 90% weapons grade supply.
On Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not negotiate with the “bullying country.”
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Iran currently exports an average of 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, but under Trump’s February 6 executive order, the state and the Treasury are working to “run a campaign aimed at driving Iran’s oil exports to zero.”
The US is also working to end the sanctions exemption at Iran’s Chabahar port, with India pouring $370 million to build a trading gateway to the Middle East.
The US can then aim for China and buy 90% of Iran’s oil spill.
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