Iraq Power Supply Threatened as Flight Ban Sparks Row with Washington

Iraq's First Deputy Parliament Speaker Adnan Faihan al-Dulaimi has called out the recent ban on Iranian civilian flights as 'hasty and ill-considered.' He warns that the decision could threaten Iraq's power supply, citing the country's dependence on natural gas imports from Iran. Al-Dulaimi estimates that a complete cutoff of gas supplies could reduce Iraq's national grid operating capacity by 30% to 40%, leading to increased outages in Baghdad and central and southern provinces.

The ban was implemented in response to US sanctions targeting Iranian airlines and foreign networks accused of supporting Tehran's aviation sector. However, al-Dulaimi argues that unilateral US sanctions do not constitute a binding international obligation on Iraq and that any action against Iran requires an Iraqi legal basis or an international commitment applicable to the country.

Al-Dulaimi also raised concerns about the impact on religious tourism, citing the significant role Iranian pilgrims play in Najaf's hospitality industry. He questioned how the government planned to compensate affected companies, hotels, and workers, and emphasized that 'Iraq's decision must be independent and national.'