"Cancellation of Iraqi privileges granted to Jordan" on the table of Parliament next session

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[size=52]"Cancellation of Iraqi privileges granted to Jordan" on the table of Parliament next session[/size]

[size=45]It seems that the parliamentary calls to cancel the Iraqi privileges for Jordan have found their echo this time, and although it is not the first time, the parliament agreed, today, Monday, to include a proposal to cancel the privileges granted by Iraq to Jordan in its next session.[/size]
[size=45]For more than 40 years, Iraq has been supplying Jordan with crude oil at “preferential prices,” despite the ongoing losses it incurs as a result of the agreement concluded between the two countries, estimated at more than $57 million annually.[/size]
[size=45]Independent MP Hadi Al-Salami said in a statement followed by “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed” that “Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohsen Al-Mandalawi agreed to our request to submit a draft law to cancel the privileges granted by Iraq to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and directed that the draft law be included on the agenda of the next session.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "Iraq has been providing support to Jordan throughout the previous period, including providing them with fuel at $16 per barrel below the market price, in addition to other facilities provided at border crossings, such as exempting Jordanian goods from taxes."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "the House of Representatives is determined to cancel all these privileges and benefit from the differences in oil prices and taxes to enhance the financial revenues of the Iraqi state."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "this request comes because of Jordan's positions on the war on Gaza and Lebanon."[/size]
[size=45]On October 1, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had targeted Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv, during a large-scale missile attack launched from Iran. It explained that the strikes targeted the Netzarim base for the F35 aircraft that assassinated the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. It also targeted three military bases around Tel Aviv, in response to the assassination of the former head of the political bureau of Hamas, in addition to the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.[/size]
[size=45]However, Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft and air defense systems intercepted several Iranian missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace heading to Israel, which sparked widespread controversy on social media.[/size]
[size=45]At the time, Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and official government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani justified the matter by saying that “his country will not be an arena for conflict for any party,” stressing that “protecting Jordan and Jordanians is the government’s primary responsibility.”[/size]
[size=45]Israel described the missile attack launched by Iran as “the largest ever in Israel’s history,” and the American network “ABC” quoted a spokesman for the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, as saying: “Iran tonight carried out the largest and most violent missile attack against the State of Israel in its history. We are prepared and ready defensively and offensively,” and Danon called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.[/size]
[size=45]Jordan imports Iraqi crude oil in implementation of the memorandum of understanding for the supply of crude oil signed between the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the government of the Republic of Iraq on May 4, 2023, according to Al-Kharabsheh.[/size]
[size=45]According to the specialized energy platform, Jordan's imports of Iraqi oil during the year 2023 recorded an increase of more than 55% compared to the levels recorded in 2022, which provided a large portion of Jordan's fuel needs.[/size]
[size=45]On February 4, the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) revealed that Iraq sold its oil to Jordan at $13 less than the official set price.[/size]
[size=45]Over the past months, Iraq has increased the quantities it supplies to Jordan at preferential prices to 15,000 barrels per day, which covers about 15 percent of Jordan's daily oil needs, at a discounted price of $16 per barrel.[/size]
[size=45]The value of this discount is about $240,000 per day, or about $7.2 million per month, or more than $86 million per year, assuming that the export movement is not interrupted.[/size]
[size=45]In recent months, calls have been renewed to stop supplying Jordan with Iraqi oil at “preferential prices,” on the basis that this represents “a waste of the country’s resources.” This came in the wake of Jordan’s participation in confronting Iranian missiles and drones that were heading to Israel.[/size]
[size=45]Oil expert Hamza Al-Jawahiri confirmed in a previous report for “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed” that “huge losses result from this agreement, especially with the rise in oil prices, estimated at about 5 million dollars per month, and this is in vain and Iraq can invest it in construction or other important projects.”[/size]
[size=45]In early January 2023, 9 lawyers filed a lawsuit against Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, to stop the export of Iraqi oil to Jordan, considering it a “waste of the country’s money,” after American strikes targeted Iraqi armed factions.[/size]
[size=45]In late 2023, Iraqi factions prevented oil tankers from crossing back to Jordan, and threatened to burn the tankers.[/size]
[size=45]It is noteworthy that the Iraqi Parliament has called for stopping oil exports to Jordan, as Zainab Al-Moussawi, a member of the parliamentary Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee, had confirmed on November 8, 2023, that Jordan’s positions are “always hostile” towards Iraq, especially with the official Popular Mobilization Authority.[/size]
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