Politics

Iraq grapples with power shortages and Iran sanctions as summer looms

The expiration of a U.S. sanctions waiver on Iranian electricity imports is complicating Baghdad's balancing act between Tehran and Washington, while the government scrambles for power supply ahead of peak demand season.

Workers from the Southern Projects Commission of Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects assemble a pipeline designed to carry regassified LNG imported via the Khor al-Zubair port in Basra to power stations in February 2025. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Jun 19, 2019

Rockets hit multiple Basra oil sites

Katyusha rocket attacks hit facilities housing international oil companies, including Exxon, which had recently ordered foreign staff to return to Basra.

Jun 17, 2019

Federal lawsuit targeting Kurdistan oil exports delayed again

Supreme Court gives the Iraqi PM seven weeks to sign updated pleading documents.

Jun 14, 2019

Iraq receives new U.S. waiver for Iran energy imports

Three days before the expiration of a prior waiver, the U.S. has decided to continue to refrain from punishing Iraq for essential gas and power imports.

Jun 12, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: June 11, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Jun 6, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: June 2, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Jun 4, 2019

Q&A: Zuhair al-Araji, mayor of Mosul

To recover from a devastating war, Iraq’s second-largest city needs a massive mobilization of resources and coherent planning and organization – but it’s getting neither.

May 29, 2019

Iraq’s North Oil Co. sues to take Khurmala back from KRG

Khurmala Dome accounts for one-third of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil output; the federal North Oil Company, which controlled the field until 2008, is taking legal action to reclaim it.

May 29, 2019

Kurdistan begins government formation despite unresolved divisions

The KRG Parliament elected Nechirvan Barzani president, as the rival PUK party boycotted and questioned his “political legitimacy.”

May 28, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: May 28, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

May 24, 2019

Baghdad-Kurdistan oil disputes flare up in Parliament

After a period of detente following the formation of a new government, politicians are raising new complaints about federal budget payments to Kurdistan.