Iran has plan to offset Trump’s maximum pressure
By Mostafa Matourzadeh
Iranian lawmaker
As widely expected, US President Donald Trump wasted no time in pressing ahead with his maximum pressure campaign against Iran upon his return to the White House. His strategy aims to clamp down on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, curtail its defense capabilities, and further shut it out of the global economy.
In line with this approach, Washington recently did away with Iraq’s waiver from US banking sanctions, preventing Baghdad from purchasing Iranian energy (electricity). In 2018, when the Trump administration slapped energy sanctions back on Iran, exemptions were granted to certain countries, including Iraq, so they could meet their energy needs.
This move comes at a time when Iraq is grappling with severe electricity shortages, making energy security a top national priority. Iran’s neighbors—especially Iraq—have expressed a strong desire to continue working with Tehran. Not only do they seek to meet their own needs, but they also aim to help Iran push back against what they see as Washington’s cruel sanctions.
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