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US grants Iraq summer break from Iran electricity sanctions

The Trump administration’s reprieve for Iraq from US sanctions on Iranian electricity imports will extend through September.
BAGHDAD, IRAQ -OCTOBER 11:  Black smoke pours out of the smoke stacks at the Al-Doura power plant in Baghdad, October 11, 2003. The outdated power grid damaged in the war and in months of sabotage is working at 25% of its capacity. Restoring electricity is costing of $5.7 billion , the biggest price tag in the Iraq reconstruction.  

(Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

On May 7, shortly after new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi received confirmation from parliament, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the new premier and told him that Washington will move forward with a 120-day waiver to allow Iraq to import electricity from Iran.

This seemed a gesture of support from the United States to the new prime minister, whose confirmation followed the failure of his two predecessors as prime minister-designate, Adnan al-Zurfi and Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi. Pompeo's move came after Washington had initially agreed April 26 to waiver of only 30 days.

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