Iraq, US agree to fast-track Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline restart as ties continue to strengthen

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani held a phone call on February 26, agreeing to strengthen communication and cooperation between their countries.

According to a statement from Al-Sudani’s office, the two leaders discussed various aspects of US-Iraq relations and explored ways to further develop them, Caliber.Az reports referring to international media sources.

During the call, the officials also discussed coordination between Iraq and the new US administration, focusing on frameworks for bilateral agreements. They reviewed the progress of joint efforts in several sectors, agreeing to enhance communication and deepen cooperation moving forward.

One of the key topics addressed was the restart of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Türkiye. Both sides acknowledged the importance of achieving Iraq’s energy independence and quickly resuming the pipeline’s operations. They also emphasized the need to honour the terms of the contracts with American companies operating in Iraq.

Iraq has expressed its readiness to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan region to Türkiye via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. The pipeline had been suspended in March 2023 following a ruling by an international court that sided with Iraq in a long-standing dispute with Türkiye.

In September 2023, Washington and Baghdad agreed on a timeline to conclude the US-led coalition's mission in Iraq, setting a final deadline for September 2025. This agreement marks a shift towards strengthening bilateral security relations to support Iraqi forces and maintain pressure on ISIS.

Meanwhile, US military operations in Syria will continue from a designated base until September 2026 to counter the ISIS threat in northeastern Syria. Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq as part of the international coalition formed in 2014 to combat ISIS. The coalition includes countries such as France and Spain and was established to address ISIS's territorial control in Iraq and Syria.

By Tamilla Hasanova