ZCZC
BCN-44
IRAQ-IRAN-TURKEY-ECONOMY-SANCTIONS
Iraq PM to visit Iran, Turkey as US sanctions bite
BAGHDAD, Aug 11, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is to
visit top trading partners Turkey and Iran next week, an official said
Saturday, days after Washington slapped new sanctions on Tehran and piled
economic pressure on Ankara.
Abadi “will head to Turkey on Tuesday and Iran on Wednesday to discuss
economic affairs with the two countries,” the official said on condition of
anonymity.
Iraq is the second-largest importer of Iranian non-hydrocarbon products,
buying some $6 billion (5 billion euros) worth of goods from its eastern
neighbour in 2017.
It also buys in Iranian-generated electricity in efforts to deal with
chronic power cuts that have been a key factor sparking mass protests in
recent weeks.
Abadi on Tuesday said Iraq would reluctantly comply with sanctions against
Tehran which took effect the same day.
It came after the administration of US President Donald Trump’s ,
unilateral withdrawal from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and
world powers.
“We don’t support the sanctions because they are a strategic error, but we
will comply with them,” Abadi said.
Baghdad is allied with Washington, a strategic partner in the war that saw
Iraq declare “victory” over Islamic State jihadists in late 2017.
But it also has strong ties to Tehran, a Shiite powerhouse that is heavily
involved in Iraq’s political affairs.
Abadi’s visit to Ankara is also overshadowed by a bitter row between NATO
allies Turkey and the US.
Trump said Friday he was doubling steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey as
part of an ongoing row over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson
and other issues.
The row has caused the Turkish lira to crash, dropping 16 percent against
the dollar on Friday.
BSS/AFP/SR/2000 HRS