Pompeo extends Iran sanctions waiver

US Secretary of State on Wednesday extended a waiver on Iran sanctions.

 Iran Press/America: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that United States would not enforce sanctions on Iraq buying electricity from Iran for 120 days in a phone call with Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhemi, AFP reported.

Earlier in late April US official had said that Washington had given Iraq a 30-day exemption "to allow time for the formation of a credible government."

The US has repeatedly extended the exemption for Baghdad to use Iranian gas and electricity, for periods of 45, 90, and 120 days.

The US move to impose an exemption on Iraq's import of gas and electricity from Iran came after Washington's failed efforts to bring Baghdad into line with US unilateral sanctions.

In recent months, the US officials have repeatedly urged Iraq to stop importing energy from Iran, but Iraqis have ignored the US request.

Iraq imports much of its energy needs, such as electricity and gas, from Iran.

Iraqi officials have repeatedly emphasized that Iraq will not be part of the US unilateral sanctions against Iran. 

On May 8, 2018, the US unilaterally withdrew from the international agreement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and announced the return of nuclear sanctions.

There has been widespread international condemnation of the US move. 

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