Basra tanker attack marks deepening crisis for Iraq oil sector

Iraq is facing a widening array of security threats and economic consequences from the Iran war.

Iraqi ports director Farhan al-Fartousi (right) conducts an inspection on March 12, 2026, of the site of an Iranian attack on oil tankers the previous night. (Photo credit: General Company for Ports of Iraq)

Energy

Iraq begins nationwide production shutdowns

With exports halted by war, Iraq has limited options to keep fields operating and has begun taking millions of barrels of daily production offline.

Politics

Government formation stalemate deepens

Nouri al-Maliki's path to the premiership becomes increasingly unlikely as political power brokers struggle to contend with U.S. opposition and regional uncertainty.

Security

Oil companies evacuate as Burjisiya drone attack highlights rising threat

Strike on a key oil logistics hub in Basra signals danger for southern Iraq's oil sector as Iran and its proxies target U.S. companies.

Interviews

Q&A: Muntaser Kadhim Haloub, deputy director general of the South Refineries Company

Southern Iraq's refining sector is expanding, creating a better supply of high-quality fuels and rising demand for crude feedstock.