This has exacerbated the country’s electricity crisis, the Middle East Monitor quoted Anadolu as reporting on Saturday.

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity spokesman Mosaab Al-Madras said that the supply cut affected Iraq’s Dhi Qar, Maysan and Basra provinces, although he did not give details of the debt to Iran.

The unpaid bills are estimated at around $1 billion, the Middle East Monitor's report added.

According to the ministry, Iraq produces 15,700 megawatts of electricity, but needs more than 23,000 megawatts per hour to ensure a non-stop supply to homes and public buildings. Iraqis are outraged at the power cuts in summer temperature of more than 50 degrees Celsius.

/SR