Iran said on Thursday that it has received $1.6 billion from Iraq to settle part of the debts it has sought from its neighbour since 2020 for the supply of gas. “After months of negotiations, $1.6 billion in arrears… for gas exports to Iraq have been received,” Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said, quoted by the Shana news agency. Baghdad had been scheduled to pay that amount to Tehran before the start of June. The debt dates back to 2020, but payment was stalled amid sanctions against Iran by the United States. Tehran has repeatedly cut off gas supplies to force Baghdad to pay off its debts, …