Iraq Loses Up to 4,500 MW as Iranian Gas Supplies Are Suddenly Cut

Iraq has confirmed that gas supplies from Iran have been completely halted, triggering a significant loss of power generation and adding pressure to the country’s already strained electricity system, the Ministry of Electricity said on Tuesday.

In an official statement, the ministry said the stoppage of Iranian gas flows led to the shutdown of several power-generating units and load shedding at others, resulting in the loss of between 4,000 and 4,500 megawatts from the national electricity grid.

“The Iranian side sent a telegram informing the Ministry of Electricity of the complete cessation of gas supplies due to unforeseen circumstances,” the statement said, without providing further details on the duration of the disruption.

Iran is a critical energy supplier to Iraq, providing between one-third and 40 percent of the country’s gas and power needs. The sudden halt is expected to worsen electricity shortages, particularly as Iraq continues to struggle with chronic power deficits and rising demand.

The disruption comes against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical and economic pressure. In March, the administration of US President Donald Trump revoked a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity imports. The move was part of Washington’s renewed “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

Iraq has long relied on Iranian gas to fuel its power plants, despite repeated efforts to diversify energy sources and boost domestic gas production. Officials have warned in the past that any interruption in Iranian supplies could have immediate and severe consequences for electricity availability nationwide.

The latest halt underscores Iraq’s vulnerability to external energy disruptions and highlights the urgency of accelerating alternative fuel solutions, grid resilience measures, and long-term energy independence strategies.