Iraq Declares Energy Crisis After Iran Slashes Natural Gas Exports
30 Dec 2020
Iraqi state media warned of a major energy crisis Tuesday due to reduced exports of natural gas from Iran.
Although Iran denied political motives for the cutoff and said it was simply a question of Iraq running behind on its payments, the move was widely seen as an effort by Tehran to increase political pressure against Iraqi Prime Minister Mustapha Kadhimi during a time of tension between his government and Shiite militia groups supported by Iran. A deal to resume Iranian gas exports was reportedly reached Wednesday afternoon.
Iranian officials insisted they have no desire to weaken or topple Kadhimi’s government, which appears to have won a power struggle with Shiite militia leaders by arresting several suspects in rocket attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Kadhimi’s government made a point of demonstrating defiance to the militias after they threatened revenge for the arrest.