President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm in the Middle East with a dramatic executive order that abruptly ends Iraq’s waver to buy gas from Iran. This high stakes move intends to choke Iran’s economy and its nuclear ambitions is sending shock-waves through Iraq’s fragile energy sector and threatening to plunge the country deeper into political and economic chaos…Baghdad is scrambling for alternatives. Financial transactions are also under siege. Washington has cut off Iran’s access to Iraq’s financial system…leaving Iraq desperate for a workaround including a potential shift to Russia’s Mir payment system. Iraq is deeply concerned the sitting president will place more sanctions on the country if they do not comply.
