Iran To Resume Gas Flows To Iraq After Agreement Reached On Unpaid Bills

BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) – Iran to resume gas flows to Iraq from Wednesday after reaching an agreement with Iraq over unpaid bills, a spokesman for Iraq’s electricity ministry said.

Iran’s state gas company said on Monday it had slashed supplies to neighbouring Iraq over arrears of more than $6 billion. Iraq’s electricity ministry said the cuts placed Baghdad and other cities at risk of serious power shortages.

An agreement was reached on Tuesday during a meeting between Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, who is visiting Baghdad, and Iraqi counterpart Majid Mahdi to resume normal gas flow rates as of Wednesday evening, spokesman Ahmed Moussa told Reuters.