State Department Grants Waiver Allowing Iraq to Purchase Electricity from Iran
The waiver allowing Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran has been consistently renewed by the United States since 2018, with the most recent extension in March.
Confirming the renewal of the waiver, the House Foreign Affairs Committee informed The Epoch Times on July 30 that Congress had been notified by the State Department about the decision, which was apparently made on July 11.
Despite a request for comment, the State Department did not provide an immediate response.
The State Department has defended the waiver in the past, emphasizing that the funds cannot reach the Iranian regime, a prominent state sponsor of terrorism. Instead, the money is intended for humanitarian purposes only.
Notably, Iran supports extremist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, all of which have been involved in violent activities against Israel and international targets.
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Recent violent incidents involving Iran-supported groups include Hamas attacking Israel, resulting in casualties, Hezbollah launching deadly attacks in Israel, and the Houthis conducting dangerous drone operations in various locations.
Experts like Richard Goldberg and Jason Brodsky have raised concerns over the renewal of the waiver, suspecting that Iran may exploit the funds for illicit purposes and terrorist activities.
