BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani held a phone conversation on Sunday with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, emphasizing coordination after Washington decided to end Baghdad's waiver to purchase power from Iran.
Washington rescinded the waiver on Saturday, as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign on Teheran, US media reported. The waiver was introduced in 2018, when Washington re-imposed sanctions on Teheran after US President Donald Trump abandoned a nuclear deal with Iran during his first term in office.
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According to a statement released by al-Sudani's media office late Sunday, during the phone talks, both sides stressed joint efforts to build a self-reliant Iraq, with Al-Sudani reiterating Iraq's commitment to expanding economic relations with the United States, encouraging American companies to invest in Iraq's growing market.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and deepening the strategic partnership, noting that the discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in economic and security matters.
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Decades of conflict have left Iraq struggling with chronic electricity shortages. Despite its oil wealth, the country remains heavily dependent on Iranian gas imports to power its grid. It also imports a large amount of electricity from its eastern neighbor.