After Abadi’s remarks, Washington: will penalize whoever violates sanctions Iran

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Washington has threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq, in case it did not stick to U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

In remarks that followed statements made by outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi over trade with Iran, Heather Nauret, the department spokesperson, said “You know our concerns about Iran and about trading with Iran, and we will continue to hold countries accountable for any violation of sanctions.”

On Monday, Abadi said the Iraqi government will stop trading with Iran in the US dollar, but it will not abide by the US sanctions against Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Iran after its withdrawal from the nuclear deal made in 2015.

The sanctions target Iran’s purchases of transportation vehicles, trade as well as gold and other main metals.

Each of Iran and Iraq have developed close ties since 2003 when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion.

Iran’s economy has come under intense strain since Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal that Tehran signed with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that had been eased under the terms of the accord.