‘STOP buying Iranian gas’ - US sends Iraq PROVOCATIVE demand as nuclear sanctions bite

PRESIDENT Trump’s energy secretary has visited Iraq to demand the country end its reliance on Iranian gas and electricity, and open its energy sector to US investment, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Iran after quitting the nuclear deal.

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تاریخ: ۲۱ آذر ۱۳۹۷ - ۰۸:۴۴

Rick Perry accompanied the largest ever US trade delegation during a visit to Iraq. Iraq was granted a 45-day waiver when tough US sanctions on Iran’s energy sector were reimposed last month. During his trip, Mr Perry urged Iraq to end its reliance on Iranian gas and electricity.

He commented: “The time has come for Iraq to break its dependence on less reliable nations seeking domination and control.

“Working together, the US and Iraq can develop Iraq’s oil, gas and water industries.”

The Iraqi Government is preparing to send a delegation to the US to request the waver is extended.

However, under US law the waver can’t be granted for more than 180 days.

President Trump announced the US was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, negotiated by President Obama, in May.

He claimed Iran was failing to honour the spirit of the agreement by continuing work on long ranged missiles and funding terror groups across the Middle East.

Two rounds of US sanctions were reimposed in August and November, with the latter targeting Iran’s energy sector.

During his visit Rick Perry met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and top Kurdish politicians.

Representatives from 50 US petroleum and security companies joined him to attend a two-day conference in Baghdad.

Mr Perry urged Iraqi authorities to lower investment in the country’s energy sector.

He commented: “Capital will come where it’s welcome”.

However, it is far from clear that Iraq can end its reliance on Iranian gas within the timeframe set-out by the US.

The US is attempting to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq, which has been high since the American invasion of 2003.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is a former member of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), a political party with close ties to Iran who used to host the faction.