Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi defended his government’s efforts to find solutions to the deteriorating power crisis in the country.
During a meeting with the electricity emergency crisis cell on Saturday, the PM indirectly criticized Iraq’s dependence on Iran as a source of power.
He wondered why Iraq has not linked its electricity grids to other neighboring countries over the past 17 years, remarking that Tehran has its own people’s needs to address.
Moreover, he noted unpaid electricity bills and US sanctions against Iran, stressing that his government is determined to resolve this matter and pay Tehran is dues related to the import of gas and electricity.
The government issued a decision last year to connect Iraq’s electric grid with all neighboring countries, which will require time and patience, Kadhimi noted.
He wondered however, “who had decided to isolate Iraq and prevent it” from importing electricity from other countries.
The premier further slammed his political opponents who are trying to take advantage of the crisis for electoral purposes.
“You must continue to build,” he urged the gatherers, saying they “must disregard the electoral propaganda because political challenges do not make a state and do not provide electricity.”
“Let us all acknowledge that everyone has wronged the Iraqi people when they refused or hesitated to take a decision or failed in implementing it,” Kadhimi said.
