NOURNEWS- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that he will grant Iraq a 120-day exemption from sanctions on imports and purchases of electricity from Iran, and that current exemptions from purchasing electricity from Iran will be extended for another four months.

Pompeo claims that the announcement of the exemption is intended to help the new Iraqi government under Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi to bring stability to the country.

Earlier in March, the United States extended a 30-day embargo on Iraq's purchase of electricity and gas from Iran.

The announcement of the exemption from sanctions for the Iraqi government comes just hours after the parliament voted in favor of Mustafa al-Kazemi's cabinet last night.

Last night, with the vote of the Iraqi parliament, Mustafa al-Kazemi officially became the official prime minister of Iraq. He and his cabinet members took the oath of office in parliament.

Reuters