Shkoi Kurdistan-
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for the release of funds held up in Iraqi banks due to US sanctions during a phone call with Iraq’s premier on Saturday, according to state media.
The Iranian leader stressed the need for the release of Iranian foreign currency in Iraq, saying that billions of dollars that Iraqi officials have promised to release remain blocked in Iraqi banks, Iranian state-run outlet IRNA reported of the meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Since former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed crippling sanctions on the country’s oil and gas sectors as well as the banking and finance sectors, Iran has been unable to repatriate the hard currency in the form of dollars that it desperately needs.
A deal was struck in October between the two countries to have Iran buy much-needed essential goods for the sanction-hit country with the frozen money, however, appears not to have been implemented yet.
The two leaders also spoke of the continued US sanctions on Iran, with the Iraqi leader speaking optimistically of President Joe Biden’s administration.
“With the new changes in the US government, a new situation has been presented for the cooperation of the countries and Iraq will do the most to cancel all sanctions against Iran,” Kadhimi said in the meeting, as reported by IRNA.
Rouhani condemned external interference in Iraqi affairs, describing it as a detriment to the country and region.
“The Americans have always had a destructive role in the region and speeding up the Iraqi parliament bill about their exit from this country, will help towards maintaining peace, stability in this country and the region,” IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying during the phone call with Kadhimi, on the second day of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq.
Iran has provided Iraq with large quantities of natural gas and electricity for over a decade to help the neighboring country cope with its dependent energy needs. War, corruption, insecurity and lack of investment have contributed to the country’s deteriorating energy infrastructure and capabilities.
A special committee has been set up in Iraq to speed up the process of transit of goods between the counties, according to the Prime Minister.
