Iraq’s electricity ministry said Tuesday that power grid interconnection projects with neighboring countries will become operational before the summer, providing up to 1,250 megawatts as the country seeks to diversify its energy sources.

The US blockade on Iranian ports is choking oil exports and rapidly filling storage, pushing the country toward production cuts, according to data from Kpler, a global trade and data analytics firm.

Families of captives detained by the Syrian interim government held a vigil on Monday in Qamishli city, northeast Syria (Rojava), demanding the return of their relatives as a prisoner exchange deal between Kurdish-led forces and Damascus proceeds slowly.