The United States said on Thursday it had renewed a waiver for Iraq to import Iranian electricity, this time for 60 days to enable Baghdad to take "meaningful actions" to reduce its energy dependence on Tehran.
The waiver will continue to exempt Iraq from US sanctions reimposed on Iran, hobbling its oil-dependent economy, after President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
Washington has repeatedly extended the waiver for Baghdad to use crucial Iranian energy supplies for its struggling power grid, usually for periods of 90 or 120 days.
"The waiver ensures that Iraq is able to meet its short-term energy needs while it takes steps to reduce its dependence on Iranian energy imports," a US State Department official said.
"We believe it is possible within the 60 days for the government of Iraq to take meaningful actions to promote energy self-sufficiency,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
