Sun Mar 09 16:05:09 UTC 2025: ## US Ends Waiver Allowing Iraq to Import Iranian Electricity, Sparking Power Crisis Fears

**Baghdad, Iraq –** The United States has ended a waiver that permitted Iraq to import electricity from Iran, potentially triggering a major power crisis in the already electricity-strapped nation. The decision, announced Sunday, March 9th, 2025, is part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure campaign” against Iran.

While the US embassy in Baghdad stated that Iranian electricity imports only constituted 4% of Iraq’s consumption, Iraqi officials paint a far grimmer picture. Ahmad Moussa, a spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity, warned that a halt to Iranian gas imports – the impact of which on Iraq remains unclear – could lead to a loss of over 30% of the country’s electricity generation capacity. A senior ministry official, speaking anonymously, estimated potential losses at 8,500 megawatts.

Iraq, despite its oil and gas reserves, has long suffered from severe electricity shortages due to war, corruption, and mismanagement. The country relies heavily on imported Iranian gas and electricity to meet its energy needs. Power outages are frequent, particularly during the scorching summer months, forcing many Iraqis to rely on expensive and polluting diesel generators.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Iranian gas supplies to Baghdad and the central Euphrates region have already ceased for the past two months, with southern supplies also proving unreliable. Billions of euros are held in an Iraqi bank account designated for payments to Iran for gas, but the funds’ usage is strictly regulated for humanitarian purposes only.

The Iraqi government is now scrambling to find alternative energy sources, but the sudden loss of Iranian electricity and potential gas supply disruptions could leave millions of Iraqis facing widespread blackouts and extreme heat. The long-term consequences of this decision on Iraq’s stability remain to be seen.

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