US, Iraq agree to resume oil exports via Türkiye ‘quickly’
A section of the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline, a key route for crude oil exports. (AA Photo)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani agreed during a call on Tuesday to work “quickly” to reopen the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline, resuming crude oil exports through the Ceyhan port, according to the State Department.
“The two agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, and to honor contractual terms for U.S. companies working in Iraq to attract additional investment,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
Rubio and Al-Sudani discussed the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and the importance of Iraq’s stability and sovereignty as well as reducing Iran’s influence and the fight against Daesh, she added.
The required procedures finalized by Iraq to resume oil exports
During the call, Rubio also “reaffirmed the importance of Syria not becoming a haven for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors,” according to the statement.
A statement from Al-Sudani’s office said they both agreed to enhance communication and deepen cooperation between their countries and reviewed progress in joint efforts across various sectors.
In March 2023, Iraq stopped sending oil through the pipeline after winning an arbitration case against Türkiye at the International Court of Arbitration. The suspension of exports is believed to have cost Iraq more than $23 billion in economic losses.
On Feb. 23, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that the required procedures to restart crude exports from the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) to Türkiye through the Ceyhan port had been finalized.
