Iraq’s Electricity Minister Majid Mahdi Hantoush plans to visit Tehran to facilitate arrears payment, Iran’s Envoy to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi said.
According to Masjedi, Hantoush is going to visit Iran in the coming days to pave the way for payment of electricity arrears to Iran amid Iraq’s high power consumption season.
Masjedi tweeted on Friday that the trip is aimed at expanding energy cooperation between Baghdad and Tehran.
Hantoush expressed hope that Iran would respond positively to Iraq’s gas demand.
In relevant remarks in February 2019, Masjedi said that Tehran would help Baghdad to have no power outage by 3 to 4 years.
In a meeting with councilors of Balad city of Salehuddin governorate in Iraq, Masjedi pointed to the trip of ex-Iraqi Minister of Electricity Louay al-Khateeb to Tehran and said, “According to the agreements made between the two parties, shortage in Iraqi’s electricity would be completely removed within the next three to four years.”
He reiterated, “Iran’s participation in reconstruction of Iraq has started seriously and Tehran is fully determined to take giant steps in this regard.”
As Islamic Republic of Iran stood by Iraqi people and government in the fight against terrorism, it is also determined in reconstruction of cities hit by the ISIL, Masjedi added.
No one can create a rift between the two nations of Iran and Iraq, he said, adding, “Iranian companies initiated reconstructing and strengthening infrastructures in Iraq and this trend would be continued seriously.”
