Politics

Cabinet advances proposal for northern oil export restart

Iraq's main political factions appear to have an initial agreement for paying Kurdistan's oil companies for exports, but legislative, legal, and practical hurdles remain.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (right) and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (left) speak at a ceremony for the signing of a framework deal to restart Iraq's northern exports in Baghdad on April 4, 2023. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Sep 29, 2022

Iran strikes opposition targets deep in Iraqi Kurdistan

As protesters in Iran denounce the government, Iran's military escalates its cross-border campaign against Kurdish parties accused of supporting the unrest.

Sep 22, 2022

Iraq’s highest court strikes down INOC

The Federal Supreme Court appeared to end Oil Minister Ihsan Ismaael's fledgling efforts to create an Iraqi National Oil Company, ruling its legal foundations "invalid."

Sep 20, 2022

Court again delays case against Kurdistan IOCs

Gazprom Neft sends lawyer to court, bucking trend of companies ignoring Oil Ministry lawsuits seeking to invalidate KRG oil contracts.

Sep 19, 2022

Weatherford pledges to obey Baghdad’s blacklist and exit Kurdistan

The U.S. company joins a growing list of blue-chip oil services firms bowing to the Oil Ministry's pressure campaign against the KRG energy sector.

Aug 30, 2022

UPDATE: Civil unrest raises risks for oil sector

As political crisis and escalating violence threaten the stability of the state, followers of Sadr have also started protests at some oil fields.

Aug 25, 2022

UPDATE: Baghdad issues new legal threats to block Kurdistan exports

Letter from Iraq's oil marketing company warns of "firm legal action" against participants in the KRG's independent oil trade.

Aug 23, 2022

Kurdistan appeals Baghdad ruling against IOCs

Entering the legal fray as a third party, the KRG is appealing a Baghdad court’s July decision to invalidate four oil contracts.

Aug 9, 2022

Dust storms highlight Iraqi leadership failures as climate crisis worsens

Iraq's most vulnerable citizens are the hardest hit by dust storms, which are growing in frequency and intensity due to both global climate change and government inaction.

Aug 9, 2022

Oil Ministry puts Gazprom, Dana Gas in legal crosshairs

Baghdad is expanding its campaign to invalidate Kurdistan's oil contracts, filing new cases against the Russian and Emirati companies.

Aug 3, 2022

Political upheaval in Baghdad reverberates across oil sector

In the increasingly chaotic struggle to form a new government, Iraq's oil sector has been both a political battleground and a victim of dysfunctional governance.