Fiber optic cables The Iraqi Government has closed the fiber-optic cable project to benefit some of its neighboring countries including Iran according to Fayan Dakhil, Chairman of the Services and Reconstruction Committee.   Dakhil explained in a press conference on Monday that the project was meant to be between Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to make Iraq a ‘transit’ country for external communications.
Dakhil added that the Ministry of Communication agreed on a treaty with three companies to continue the project despite the Government’s decision to halt it due to security reasons. Dakhil described the decision as "a mistake" and confirmed the halting of the project could result in the wasting of millions of dollars.
The former Iraqi communication minister, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi recently resigned accusing the Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of politically interfere in his ministry. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister he emphasised the importance of the cable project for the Iraqi economy and indicated the reasons that have led to its suspension.
In his letter, Allawi pointed out that other countries in the region are considering building a parallel cable. The first is between Iran, Turkey and Europe and is the line that the majority of countries do not want as it passes through Iran. The second is through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Europe. Many countries also refute this option as a result of the precarious conditions in Syria which is already crossed by two other line projects. The third line would finally connect Turkey, Iraq and Europe. This one can be activated only if the Ministry of Communication in the Kurdish region agrees. If this happens, according to Allawi’s letter, Iraq will gain a lot economically as it will play a crucial role in linking the East and West.
Allawi claimed the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has personally asked him to cancel the contract as he considered it as being too risky for national security.