Kurdish oil exports remain halted pending Turkish elections

Once a winner emerges in this weekends presidential runoff election, Ankara may use the oil dispute as leverage against Baghdad regarding water and the Turkish military presence in Iraq

Halt of Kurdish oil exports has cost KRG $550m

Exports had been expected to resume following an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil on 4 April that critics say would reinforce corruption

White House urges Turkiye, Iraq to resume Kurdish oil exports

Kurdish oil exports to Turkiye since 2014 have been deemed illegal by an international court

Turkiye leaves Baghdad waiting over resumption of oil exports

For years, the Kurdistan Regional Government gained billions of dollars in cash by exporting crude oil to Turkiye without the approval of the Iraqi federal government

KRG, Baghdad yet to reach oil export agreement: Official

The Turkish government was ordered to pay a fine of $1.5 billion in damages to Baghdad for unauthorized exports from the KRG between 2014 and 2018

Iraq, IKR government agree to resume oil exports

This agreement would be a prelude to passing the financial budget law

Erbil, Baghdad reach preliminary agreement on oil export dispute

A prolonged halt on Kurdish oil exports could greatly damage the economy of the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region

Baghdad wins arbitration over KRG crude exports to Turkiye

Meanwhile, the trading firm Trafigura also cut its ties with the KRG in January, further weakening the regional government's position

Erbil oil revenues to come under Iraqi supervision

The move continues a trend reversing aspects of Kurdish autonomy gained since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq

Kurdistan Regional Government resumes oil exports to Turkiye

The export of Kurdish oil to Turkiye has long been controversial, as large amounts are purchased by Israel

Stolen Syrian oil: The fuel for Syria’s partition

The role of the US military in stealing Syria’s oil runs deeper than mere petty theft. The funds are used to prop up Kurdish self-rule and ensure Syria's geographic division.

Halliburton becomes third US firm to halt oil operations in Iraq

This comes in light of an Iraqi Federal Court ruling deeming independent oil exports in the autonomous Kurdish region as unconstitutional

Iraqi law to criminalize ties with Israel on hold, pending Kurdish approval

A strong US drive to offer economic support and financial incentive in return for normalization could influence the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to break away from the official Iraqi position

Iraqi Federal Court declares Kurdistan Region oil and gas law unconstitutional

Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, has vowed to defend the rights of the Kurdistan Region on the oil and gas law

Meet the Anglo-Turkish oil company with an iron grip on KRG oil

The Kurdistan Regional Government has sold its soul to Turkish oil predators and Iraq is paying the price. Genel Energy is one such company, and the debt it has generated holds the country in hock.

Independent Kurdistan in US interest: John Bolton

Bolton’s support for an independent Kurdish state in what is now northern Iraq highlights one of the key goals of neo-conservatives who conspired to launch the illegal invasion of the country with the world’s second-largest oil reserves

The Sultan 2.0 will heavily tilt east

It's not that Erdogan has a scheme to head east at the west's expense. It's just that the world's grandest infrastructure, development, and geopolitical projects are all in the east today.

US seeks to build additional military base in Iraq’s Anbar

Both the US and Turkiye have used the pretext of fighting ISIS as a way to establish new bases in the war-torn country

Yazidis protest return of Sunni Arab families to Sinjar

Controversy over who is to blame for the 2014 ISIS genocide against Yazidis continues to stir sectarian tensions

US treasury secretary says sanctions on Iran failed to achieve ‘ideal’ result

Janet Yellen acknowledged Washington's hybrid warfare against Iran has created a 'real economic crisis' that affects everyday citizens

Syrian sanctions relief: An ‘American trick’

The temporary lifting of Washington's sanctions on earthquake-stricken and war-torn Syria is 'misleading' at best, and stands in the way of relief efforts.

Iraqi president, KRG minister discuss resolution of outstanding issues

Tensions remain between Erbil and Baghdad due to Kurdish oil exports to Israel via Turkiye and the independence of Peshmerga forces from the Iraqi army

Syria under the American whip: Sanctions that kill

The western sanctions weapon is not new to Syria, but since 2019 it has become a lethal one, destroying entire Syrian sectors and killing its people.

Ukraine war triggers food security crisis in Arab world and beyond

Russia and Ukraine supply most of West Asia and North Africa’s wheat, which is the integral ingredient in the region’s most critical food staple

Why does Turkey have 38 illegal bases in northern Iraq?

The illegal Turkish military presence in Iraq is a blatant violation of that country's territorial integrity. While Ankara claims it is a national security priority, it actually uses this military cover to influence and manage Iraqi and regional affairs.