Tehran stopped supplying electricity to Iraq in July due to unpaid bills and because of a rise in Iranian consumption during the summer, according to Reuters.

The power shortage in Iraq sparked protests in Basra and other cities, as people blamed what they called an inept and corrupt Iraqi government.

Deputy Energy Minister Mahmoudreza Haghifam said on Tuesday, August 21, Iran had restarted electricity exports to Iraq, Tasnim news agency reported.

“We are now exporting 200 to 250 megawatt of electricity to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.

Saudi Arabia offered last month to sell electricity to Baghdad at a discount.

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