Zaidi takes power, Khudair confirmed as oil minister

Parliament has approved a majority of Cabinet posts as Ali al-Zaidi becomes Iraq's next prime minister and Bassim Khudair rises from deputy minister to oil minister.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (standing, left) addresses the Parliament following the confirmation of several Cabinet ministers, including Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair. (Photo credit: Iraqi Parliament)

Energy

Pipeline delays cap Iraq’s northern exports

The Iraqi side of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline is still months away from coming online — a consequence of years of dysfunction that deprived Iraq of strategic export flexibility.

Politics

U.S. sanctions Maarij, escalating pressure over next Iraqi Cabinet

The first American designation of a sitting senior Oil Ministry official comes as Iraqi leaders negotiate the composition of a new government.

Security

Drone strikes signal escalating threat to Iraqi oil sector

A barrage of attacks hit five oil sites in southern Iraq on a single day.

Interviews

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream

Iraq's top upstream oil official confirms that production, curtailed by war, is ready to surge back online — but only once ships can reliably resume Basra Gulf export loadings.