Abadi: Iraq does not abide by 'unjust' US sanctions on Iran

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has retracted remarks he previously made about Iraq abiding by the US sanctions on Iran, stating his comments were misunderstood.

On Aug. 6, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of economic sanctions on Tehran which had ended when the 2015 nuclear deal was signed.

The initial set of sanctions include a ban on Iran’s acquisition and use of US dollars, trade in gold and other metals, as well as the import into the US of Iranian carpets and pistachios.

The second stage of sanctions, which will take effect on Nov. 5, targets Iran’s oil sector.

During a press briefing last week, Abadi said Iraq would not react to the US-Iran dispute, but said Baghdad would abide by the decision.

However, addressing reporters on Monday, the Iraqi Prime Minister stepped back from his comments and said he had not made any decision on behalf of the Iraqi government to abide by the US sanctions on Iran, claiming he had only described the case.

“I described the case, condemned the US sanctions on Iran, and said the sanctions are unjust and we do not sympathize with them. This is not a decision but an opinion,” Abadi stated.

He said a powerful country such as the US had no right to impose sanctions on other countries.

“Our message [in the previous press briefing] was clear but maybe misunderstood, but some people have been trying to fabricate and mislead the statement,” Abadi said.

“I did not say we abide by the sanctions; I said we abide by not using dollars in transactions. We have no other choice.”

Amid the ongoing US-Iran dispute, Abadi was set to visit Iran to discuss economic relations. On Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the cancellation of Abadi’s official visit to Tehran without providing further clarification.

The statement followed remarks by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which responded to an Iraqi official who claimed on Saturday that Abadi was to visit both Turkey and Iran this week.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany