President Hassan Rouhani called on Saturday for Iran and neighboring Iraq to expand their gas and electricity dealings and boost bilateral trade to $20 billion, state TV reported, despite difficulties caused by US sanctions against Tehran.
“The plans to export electricity and gas and hopefully oil continue and we are ready to expand these contacts not only for the two countries but also for other countries in the region,” Rouhani said after a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, in remarks carried by state television.
In March, the United States granted Iraq a 90-day waiver exempting it from sanctions to buy energy from Iran, the latest extension allowing Baghdad to keep purchasing electricity from its neighbor.
“We hope that our plans to expand trade volume to $20 billion will be realized within a few months or years,” Rouhani said.
Iranian media reports have put the current level of trade at about $12 billion.
Rouhani expressed hope that work on building a railway linking the two countries, would begin within the next few months.
ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia pledges $1 bln for Iraq as high-level delegation starts visit
The railway project was part of deals reached during Rouhani’s March visit to Baghdad, meant to underline that Tehran still plays a dominant role in Iraq despite US efforts to isolate Iran.
Iran and Iraq fought a devastating 1980-88 war but the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that ousted Saddam Hussein prompted a long Sunni Islamist insurgency during which Iran’s regional sway rose at the expense of the United States.
Iraq on Saturday closed its Sheeb border crossing with Iran to travelers and trade until further notice, Iraqi security sources said, as flooding continues to submerge villages in southwestern Iran.
US President Donald Trump re-imposed sanctions on Iran’s energy exports in November, citing its nuclear program and meddling in the Middle East, but has granted waivers to several buyers to meet consumer energy needs.
Iraq relies heavily on Iranian gas to feed its power stations, importing roughly 1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day via pipelines in the south and east.
-
US extends Iraq waiver over Iran sanctions
The United States is extending a waiver to let energy-hungry Iraq keep buying power from Iran, despite Washington’s campaign of sanctions aimed ... Energy -
Amid trade tensions with US, India wants to extend Iran oil sanctions waiver
India wants to keep buying Iranian oil at its current level of about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), as it negotiates with Washington about extending a ... Economy -
US considers sanction waivers on countries reducing imports of Iranian oil
US President Donald Trump’s administration is considering sanction waivers for countries that are reducing their imports of Iranian oil, a US ... Middle East -
Trump wants US military in Iraq to ‘watch Iran’
US President Donald Trump said it was important to keep a US military presence in Iraq so that Washington can keep a close eye on Iran, according to a ... Middle East