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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.
Deputy Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair (center) and Basra Oil Company Director General Bassim Abdul Karim (right) tour part of the Ratawi project led by TotalEnergies in February 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)
Jun 3, 2015

Q&A: Anbari tribal leaders

The fall of Ramadi was long in the making, and is only the latest symptom of long-standing dysfunction in the Iraqi government's strategy for Anbar province.

May 11, 2015

Q&A: Deputy Oil Minister Dhia Jaffar

The new refining chief says Karbala is on track, Missan is behind schedule, Nassiriya is open for offers, Kirkuk is ready for financing, and Basra can dip into petrodollars to build a new one.

Apr 7, 2015

Q&A: Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim

Karim criticizes leaders in both Baghdad and Erbil for their handling of oil policy and territorial disputes, and outlines a vision of Iraqi federalism that empowers provinces.

Apr 2, 2015

Q&A: Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari

Zebari discusses contract renegotiations with oil companies, financing Iraq's budget deficit, and building trust between Baghdad and Kurdistan.

Mar 30, 2015

Q&A: Oil Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi

Iraq's top oil man talks about renegotiating oil contracts, addressing long-standing disputes with Kurdistan, and building infrastructure and boosting exports.

Jan 15, 2015

Q&A: Ahmad Chalabi

The head of the Parliament Finance Committee talks about priorities for cutting costs while being able to pay for defense, refugees and IOCs.