
Iraq accelerates Gulf gas imports as US ends Iran energy waivers
Shafaq News/ Iraq is shifting to Gulf gas imports to replace Iranian supplies after the expiration of US sanctions waivers, while also fast-tracking a major gas pipeline project in Basra, Parliament's Oil ane Gas Committee said Sunday.
On March 8, 2025, the US waiver allowing Iraq to buy Iranian gas expired, blocking Baghdad from continuing its reliance on Tehran for power generation.
Commitee spokesperson Ali Shaddad told Shafaq News that Iraq's electricity sector faces challenges because many power plants depend solely on gas. However, Basra's plants operate on gas, crude oil, and heavy fuel, ensuring greater grid stability.
Shaddad revealed that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is personally overseeing the rapid completion of a gas pipeline from Basra's floating platform, a project launched 30 days ago by the Oil Ministry.
"The pipeline is progressing at an accelerated pace and is expected to be completed within 120 days," he said, noting that 30% of the work is already done.
Once operational, the pipeline will transport up to 200 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of Gulf gas to Iraq's power grid.
On Sunday, the US State Department formally ended Iraq's special exemptions that had allowed Baghdad to purchase Iranian electricity.
For years, Iraq has relied on Iranian gas and electricity imports, especially during peak summer demand, benefiting from periodic US waivers issued multiple times a year.
In October 2024, Iraq signed a deal with Turkmenistan to import 20 million cubic meters of gas per day via Iranian pipelines using a swap mechanism. However, implementation has stalled due to technical issues, according to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran set to respond to US nuclear proposal soon
Shafaq News/ Iran is expected to deliver a formal response soon to a US proposa l aimed at advancing negotiations over its nuclear program, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday. The response, which will be submitted in writing through diplomatic channels, could be conveyed within the next two days, according to sources cited by the agency. Iran's reply is expected to include a proposal reaffirming its commitment to continue uranium enrichment on its own territory. It will also outline measures intended to address US concerns and allegations, in exchange for the effective lifting of sanctions. Furthermore, Tehran is likely to express readiness to engage in a new round of indirect negotiations with Washington, provided that its red lines and core demands are upheld. Talks between Tehran and Washington, facilitated by Omani mediators, resumed on April 12 and have since completed five rounds. Discussions have focused on the scope of uranium enrichment and the sequencing of sanctions relief, although key differences remain. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi had delivered the components of the US proposal to Tehran during a brief visit. 'Iran will respond appropriately based on principles, national interests, and the rights of the Iranian people,' his post read.


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Basra's environmental crisis: Tribal leaders condemn government inaction
Shafaq News/ Tribal leaders in northern Basra denounced, on Monday, the Iraqi government's 'failure' to confront a worsening environmental crisis, warning that unchecked pollution is 'slowly killing' local communities. In a statement, elders accused officials of disregarding health risks, ignoring public outcry, and breaking earlier promises, stating, 'Local representatives met with the Prime Minister's [Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's] Office, where officials pledged action, but nothing has materialized.' They urged Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani to root out corruption within provincial agencies and engage directly with community leaders to address the health and environmental fallout. Basra, Iraq's oil capital, is suffering from severe pollution, marked by a recent toxic algae bloom turning parts of the Euphrates River red. Years of industrial mismanagement, poor infrastructure, and climate change have contributed to hazardous air and water quality. Gas flaring, vehicle emissions, and power plants exacerbate the situation.


Memri
3 hours ago
- Memri
Former Iranian Nuclear Chief Ali-Akbar Salehi on Iran's Growing Domestic Nuclear Capabilities: Iran Now Produces IR-9 Centrifuges, Expanding Nuclear Facilities Nationwide; Needs 100 Tons of Uranium fo
In a June 4, 2025 interview on IRINN TV (Iran), former Iranian nuclear chief Ali-Akbar Salehi discussed the progress of Iran's nuclear program amid ongoing challenges with international cooperation. He said that while China initially helped Iran begin uranium mining, around 30 years ago Iran also launched a project with China at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), but the Chinese abandoned it halfway through. According to Salehi, the chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority claimed that the United States pressured China to exit Iran's nuclear program after the JCPOA was signed, but Iran ultimately completed the project on its own. Salehi went on to describe Iran's turbulent nuclear cooperation with Russia, noting that Russia is currently building two new power plants in Bushehr. He explained that while Iran uses imported fuel for foreign-made reactors, it still requires domestically manufactured fuel - which in turn requires 100 tons of natural uranium - for its domestically built reactors. Emphasizing Iran's growing domestic capabilities, Salehi stated that the country is now producing its own centrifuges and has reached the IR-9 model, which is 50 times more powerful than the IR-1. He also discussed ongoing plans to expand nuclear facilities across the country.