Iraqi PM: We dismantled oil smuggling networks across the country

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Dec 2022 00:23
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The Iraqi Prime Minister stresses the need to resolve differences through dialogue.

Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, stressed the need for "resolving the differences in the country through dialogue and rapprochement between the different points of view of the political forces."

On the eve of the Baghdad Summit II, Al-Sudani said, "We dismantled a large number of oil smuggling networks in Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, and Kirkuk, and we arrested 18 members of these networks."

He pointed out that a network of security services personnel protected and facilitated the passage of tanks intended for smuggling, pointing out that more than 1.7 million liters of smuggled oil derivatives and 66,000 tanks were confiscated.

Regarding the security breach in Kirkuk Governorate, Al-Sudani saw that it "comes after great victories for the security services in the recent period," pointing out that the air force launched strikes that resulted in the killing of several leaders of the terrorist ISIS group.

Al-Sudani stressed that "there will be no settlement for the corrupt individuals at the expense of public money."

The Iraqi PM also stressed that "the government is keen to support the judiciary in anti-corruption measures," reiterating what he had promised earlier that his country's government "has prioritized combating corruption, which stands as the primary reason for the state's reluctance to carry out its duties."

Al-Sudani further reassured that "the government is able to control food prices, and secure the ration card," saying, "We asked the Central Bank to take quick steps to compensate for the dollar shortage in the market."

A few days ago, the Iraqi Cabinet approved unanimously, during an exceptional session under the chairmanship of Al-Sudani, in favor of the government's agenda that received the Parliament’s confidence on October 27.

Al-Sudani stressed in the session that the government's priorities are based on "meeting the social and economic needs of citizens."