US energy chief in Baghdad as sanctions waiver runs out

US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Tuesday Iraq should partner with American companies to become energy independent, as Baghdad's waiver from US sanctions on Iran nears its expiry.

He spoke during a visit by the largest-ever US trade delegation to Iraq for a two-day conference in Baghdad attended by more than 50 companies, most linked to petrol or security.

"Working together, the US and Iraq can develop Iraq's oil, gas and water industries," Perry told those gathered.

"The time has come for Iraq to break its dependence... on less reliable nations seeking domination and control," he said, in an apparent reference to US foe Iran. Iraq imports vast amounts of gas and electricity from Iran.

When Washington reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran's energy sector last month, it gave Iraq a 45-day waiver to plan how it would stop depending on Iranian electricity.

Perry on Tuesday said he discussed sanctions with Iraqi Oil Minister Thamer al-Ghadban and Electricity Minister Luay al-Khateeb, but did not say whether Baghdad would receive an extension to the waiver which ends next week.

Iraq this week is marking one year since it declared victory against the Islamic State group, whose sweep across swathes of the country prompted foreign firms to withdraw.

But since IS was rolled back and Iraq held parliamentary elections in May, the US embassy in Baghdad has energetically pushed American companies to invest in Iraq, and the Iraqi government to open doors for them.

The embassy published a video this week insisting America should be "Iraq's economic partner of choice."
Steve Lutes of the US Chamber of Commerce, which organised the gathering, said its goal "is to show American companies that Iraq is open for business."