Iran stops gas exports to Iraq despite attack on Kurdistan's key field

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran has halted natural gas exports to Iraq, despite a sharp drop in domestic production following an attack on a field in the Kurdistan Region, the spokesperson for Iraq’s electricity ministry said on Thursday.

"Iran's gas stops completely today because there is maintenance work, and therefore we hope for the resumption of gas releases from Khor Mor gas to those stations to resume pumping power or delivering power to the system and the northern region," Ahmed Musa told Rudaw. 

The Wednesday drone attack on Kurdistan Region's Khor Mor gas field "has clearly begun to affect the electricity supply to Nineveh province, as well as Kirkuk and Salahaddin, and we hope this damage will be repaired," he added. 

The Kurdistan Region supplies electricity to Iraq's northern provinces.

Iraq is largely dependent on its energy imports from Iran, though the supply is irregular. 

The Khor Mor attack has triggered a partial blackout across the Kurdistan Region, reducing electricity supply from 24 hours to just five in most areas.

Iraqi officials have condemned the attack and offered assistance in repairing the damage at the field. Baghdad has also vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable. The attack is believed to have originated from federal areas bordering the Region.

"Our duty is to track and pursue everyone who carries out such attacks that target the Iraqi state. Significant work is being done by the security and intelligence agencies, with high coordination between us, especially since the joint brigades present between us and our brothers in the Region - their duty is to track and pursue terrorism," Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, Director of Media and Moral Guidance at Iraq's defense ministry, told Rudaw. 

Halkawt Aziz contributed to this article from Baghdad.