Oil in Parliament’s scope

Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani fended off a barrage of criticism from the Iraqi parliament Tuesday, but must return for another session Thursday, as parliament continues to assert its contested constitutional right to halt the impending licensing round—meaning that the IOCs' key concerns remain unresolved.

Shahristani faced hours of parliamentary criticism, with all parties' positions appearing entrenched with little room for compromise on the varied interpretations of constitutional rights to steer oil policy.