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WORLD NEWS Friday 14 July 2023
Iraqi officials are defending a barter deal with Iran

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB and of anonymity to discuss the
ABDULRAHMAN ZEYAD deal. The official said U.S.
Associated Press sanctions would not be vio-
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi of- lated because they apply
ficials defended Thursday a to financial transactions —
deal inked this week to bar- and not barter deals. Still,
ter oil for gas with Iran, say- Iraq has not officially noti-
ing it does not violate U.S. fied Washington of the ar-
sanctions on Tehran but will rangement, he said.
help alleviate a worsening The U.S. State Department
electricity crisis in Iraq. did not immediately re-
The remarks come as the spond to requests for com-
government in Baghdad ment. There was no imme-
struggles to balance be- diate comment from Teh-
tween its two key allies, ran. Washington has been
Washington and Tehran. concerned about Iran’s
A previous arrangement in relationship with Iraq, es-
which Iraq was buying gas pecially with large number
from Iran and paying dollars of Iran-backed groups in
for it was held up because its government and parlia-
Washington declined to ment.
approve sanctions waivers. The United States in late
That in turn led Iran to cut 2022 tightened measures
the gas supply, triggering Water buffaloes swim near the Nihran Bin Omar oil field north of Basra, Iraq, Wednesday, March on Iraq accessing its for-
severe power shortages in 22, 2023. eign reserves housed in the
Iraq. Associated Press Federal Reserve, after sus-
After decades of electric- when Iraqis are forced to al-Sudani announced the clined by over 50%. After pecting money was being
ity shortages because of pay for private diesel gen- barter deal with Iran but the barter deal, al-Sudani transferred to Iran, Syria,
war, corruption and mis- erators or suffer through warned that Washington said the “supply of Iranian and other sanctioned enti-
management, oil-rich Iraq temperatures that often still has not granted a waiv- gas has resumed” and ties. The move led to a drop
has become heavily reliant exceed 50 degrees Celsius er for Baghdad to pay $11 would “return to the same in the value of the Iraqi di-
on imported Iranian gas to (122 degrees Fahrenheit). billion it currently owes to quantities as previously.” nar and a spike in public
meet its electricity needs. Washington has granted Tehran, leaving the mon- According to a senior po- anger in Iraq.
The shortages in recent some exemptions to its ey trapped in Iranian ac- litical official close to al- Yesar Al-Maleki, an analyst
months are in part due to sanction on Iran over Teh- counts in the state-owned Sudani’s government, the at the Middle East Eco-
U.S. restrictions on transfer- ran’s disputed nuclear pro- Trade Bank of Iraq. barter agreement would nomic Survey, said cash-
ring funds to Iran. gram to allow Iraq to meet As a result, he said Iran had see Iraq send 250,000 bar- strapped Iran has been
Imports from Iran are es- its energy needs. cut its gas exports since rels of crude oil to Iran daily. putting pressure on Bagh-
pecially vital during the On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime the beginning of July, and The official spoke to The As- dad to urge Washington for
scorching summer months Minister Mohammed Shia Baghdad’s supply has de- sociated Press on condition waivers. q

Thousands protest outside U.S. offices

in Tel Aviv

By JULIA FRANKEL changes to the Israeli legal the U.S. Embassy Branch
Associated Press system aimed at weaken- Office, they waved Ameri-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Thou- ing what they say are the can flags and LGBTQ+
sands of protesters gath- excessive powers of un- pride flags and brandished
ered outside the main U.S. elected judges. The pro- signs reading “SOS” and
diplomatic office in Tel posed changes include “Mayday!” The overhaul
Aviv Thursday night, calling giving Netanyahu’s allies has drawn consternation
upon the U.S. to condemn control over the appoint- from Biden and American
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- ment of judges and the Jews. On Sunday, Biden
tanyahu’s plan to overhaul power to overturn court de- told CNN that Israel’s cur-
the country’s judiciary. cisions they do not support. rent government has some A man waves Israeli and U.S. flags during a protest against plans
The gathering came days Protesters say the plan will “of the most extreme mem- by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to
overhaul the judicial system, outside of the U.S. Embassy Branch
after President Joe Biden destroy the country’s frag- bers” he has ever seen and Office in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
called members of Netan- ile system of checks and criticized their support for Associated Press
yahu’s far-right govern- balances and concentrate West Bank settlements, built
ment “extreme” and said power in the hands of Ne- on occupied lands sought amar Ben-Gvir, a firebrand ed to Israeli leaders. Israel’s
that supporters of Israel’s tanyahu and his allies. by the Palestinians for a settler leader, said that Isra- figurehead president, Isaac
West Bank settlements were Protesters, who are now future state. He also urged el is “no longer another star Herzog, is set to visit Wash-
“part of the problem.” in their seventh month of Netanyahu to show “mod- in the American flag.” ington next week, and has
Netanyahu’s allies, who demonstrations, fear that eration” with the judicial Biden has so far declined been invited to address a
comprise the most far-right Netanyahu’s plans will strain overhaul. Israeli hardliners to invite Netanyahu to the joint session of Congress on
Israeli government ever, Israel’s close alliance with rejected Biden’s criticism. White House, normally a July 19 to celebrate Israel’s
have proposed a series of the U.S. Standing outside National Security Minister It- standard courtesy extend- 75th anniversary.q