US Energy Secretary Rick Perry visited Baghdad on Tuesday and discussed with senior Iraqi officials in the energy sector the sanctions imposed by his country on Iran.
Perry pointed to the US plan to boost investments of its private sector in Iraq.
He met with Iraqi President Barham Salih, PM Adel Abdul Mahdi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.
Salih praised the US support for Iraq in its fight against terrorism and the joint cooperation between the two countries on various levels, especially in the fields of oil, energy, reconstruction and investment.
“It is important to rectify the economic course in the country and create an appropriate economic environment to achieve self-sufficiency, with Iraq’s desire to benefit from the US experiences in the field of energy, especially in the development of oil industries and its international market,” a presidential statement said.
Perry, for his part, stressed that energy, economic development, education and health opportunities are unlimited in Iraq.
He said, “meetings with Iraqi government leaders focused on the importance of strengthening partnership with the United States at the government and private sector levels to achieve success in the economic sector.”
He also stressed his country’s full support to Iraq, its readiness to develop mechanisms of scientific, technical and logistical cooperation in terms of construction, energy and rehabilitation of infrastructure and to practically and seriously activate this cooperation through various investments.
The meeting between Perry and Abdul Mahdi focused on the importance of developing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in the fields of energy and oil, according to a statement by Abdul Mahdi’s office.
An Iraqi official told Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington has been working with its regional allies to end the energy crisis Iraq has been suffering from since 2003.
He explained that the country is unable to end its energy crisis, making it partly dependent on Iran, from which it buys 1200 MW per month.
It also imports large quantities of gas to operate gas power stations as well as oil derivatives after shutting Baiji refinery in Salah al-Din when ISIS took control over the Western provinces.
