Iran calls on Iraq to pay "one billion dollars"

An Iranian official on Saturday called on the Iraqi government to accelerate the payment of electricity debts to Tehran, which exceeded one billion dollars, pointing out that the company 'Tuanir' Iran, which specializes in the production, transmission and distribution of electric power is pursuing with Baghdad to pay these debts.


"The Iraqi authorities should speed up the payment of electricity debt to Iran, which exceeded one billion US dollars," the Iranian Broadcasting and Radio Agency quoted Deputy Minister of Energy and General Coordinator of Tawanir Mahmoud Reza Hakki Fam as saying.


He added that Iran is in dire need of electricity sales funds to Iraq, "noting that" these funds and debt on Iraq accumulated, not debts today or yesterday. "


"The Minister of Energy, Reza Ardkani, entrusted to the company to communicate with the Iraqi government to pay the debts of electricity sales to Iraq," noting that 'Baghdad is required to accelerate the payment of those debts, and negotiations are underway in this regard' .


The Iranian official said: 'The Iranian side is developing executive mechanisms to obtain electricity debt from Iraq'.


Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardkani said in July that the suspension of the export of electricity to Iraq did not violate the terms of the agreement with Baghdad, and under the terms of the agreement give priority to the needs of the country.


On August 21, the Iranian Energy Ministry announced the resumption of electricity supply to Iraq and other neighboring countries, noting that "the appeal came ten days ago and after the decline in domestic consumption."


In early July, the Iranian government announced the suspension of electricity supply to Iraq, under the pretext of rising domestic consumption in the summer, as well as non-payment of bills.


Iraq was buying about 1,000 megawatts from Iran via two lines in Diyala north and another line in Basra and a fourth in the southern city of Amara.


Electricity cuts have been frequent in Iraq, although it is a major oil producer in OPEC, at a time when the national system was unable to provide the required energy in times of extreme heat, especially in the central and southern region of the country.