Warnings for Iraq to wean from Mullahs’ regime

As Washington tightened its grip around the neck of the Iranian Mullahs’ regime by imposing two successive sanctions, Tehran views Iraq as its backdoor to evade the sanctions, the matter which requires shedding the light on the relationship between the two countries that became known to the whole world and caused great embarrassment to the Iraqi government. Especially with growing concerns of an increase in the Iranian influence in the region after the U.S. announced withdrawal from Syria.

Britain’s foreign office minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has said Iraq must wean itself off economic reliance on Iran and become more energy self-sufficient.

“What is important is that Iraq finds the opportunity to follow its own future in terms of foreign relations and that its economy is strong, and is not reliant on Iran,” Burt told Reuters in an interview.

He further stressed that Iraq must convert oil resources to become more self-sufficient, pointing out that there were ideas for more power projects in Iraq.

Iraq’s oil export capacity is nearly 5 million barrels per day, although it is pumping below capacity in line with an OPEC agreement to reduce production to stabilize prices.

Western countries hope that Iraq would managed to fulfill its local energy need and cut its reliance on electricity imports from Iran.

Burt doubted that a military escalation between the United States and Iran in Iraq or Syria was imminent, but warned of “confrontation which might occur should there be a miscalculation.”

Tension has ramped up between Washington’s chief regional ally Israel, and Iran and its allies in Syria and Iraq in recent weeks.