Overview
- Iraq’s Electricity Ministry said Iranian gas flows have fully stopped, removing 4,000–4,500 megawatts from the grid.
- Officials reported shutdowns at some generating units and load-shedding across power plants as production fell.
- Authorities switched to domestically produced alternative fuels and coordinated with the Oil Ministry to stabilize supply.
- Iran notified Baghdad of a full cessation citing “extraordinary” circumstances, with Iranian state media linking the pause to a cold snap and surging home heating demand as the national gas company remained silent.
- Iraq has relied on Iranian gas for roughly one-third of its needs as flows had been shrinking due to payment limits, U.S. sanctions pressure, and Iranian shortages, and the government is targeting gas self-sufficiency by 2028 through Western-backed capture projects.