26.09.2025 14:01
The long-standing oil crisis between Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has come to an end with a historic agreement. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that crude oil extracted from KRG fields will now be delivered to the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company and exported through Turkey's Ceyhan Port. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared the agreement as a "success awaited for 18 years," while the United States expressed its satisfaction with the reopening of the pipeline.
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that crude oil produced from the fields in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) will be delivered to the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) and exported via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline through the Ceyhan Port. While shipments are expected to begin tomorrow, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the opening of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Turkey.
TO BE EXPORTED THROUGH TURKEY
In a written statement from the ministry, it was expressed that the oil produced from the fields in IKBY will be delivered to SOMO, excluding the amounts allocated for domestic consumption, and that it will be exported through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline via the Ceyhan Port through SOMO.
It was emphasized that this process will be carried out in accordance with the applicable procedures, the Constitution, the provisions of the federal general budget law, and the decisions of the Federal Court.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also announced that the oil produced from the fields in IKBY will be exported through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani announced that an oil agreement has been reached between the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) and the Iraqi government. In a statement on his social media account, Sudani said, "Today we reached a historic agreement. According to this agreement, the crude oil produced from the fields in IKBY will be received by the Iraqi Federal Ministry of Oil and exported through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. Revenues will be distributed fairly, export resources will be made accessible everywhere, and an investment environment will be created."
"THIS IS A SUCCESS THAT HAS BEEN AWAITED FOR 18 YEARS"
Regarding the agreement reached, Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani stated, "This step will ensure the fair distribution of the country's wealth, diversification of export routes, and encouragement of investments. This is a success that has been awaited for 18 years."
U.S. WELCOMED IT
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that he welcomed the opening of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Turkey.
In a written statement from the State Department, it was noted that Rubio welcomed the announcement that the Iraqi government has reached an agreement on the reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which will provide tangible benefits for both Americans and Iraqis, with the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) and international companies. Rubio emphasized that he appreciated the determined efforts of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, IKBY Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and senior officials to make this progress possible.
Rubio evaluated that "this agreement will strengthen the mutually beneficial economic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq," stating that this development will promote a more stable investment environment for U.S. companies throughout Iraq, enhance regional energy security, and strengthen Iraq's sovereignty.
Shortly before Rubio's statement, IKBY Prime Minister Barzani announced that as a result of the agreement made today between IKBY, oil-producing companies, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, and the Iraqi National Oil Company (SOMO), the oil wells in the region have once again been opened to the world oil markets.
OIL FLOW FROM IRAQ TO TURKEY'S CEYHAN PORT HAD BEEN STOPPED
Following the decision of the International Arbitration Court regarding oil exports between Turkey and Iraq, the flow of oil from Iraq to Turkey's Ceyhan Port was halted on March 25, 2023. IKBY Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had previously stated that due to the halt of oil exports to Turkey in 2023, IKBY suffered a loss of $25 billion, which also harmed the Iraqi government.