The State Department again warns oil companies from signing deals with Iraq

The U.S. is reiterating its plea to international oil not to sign oil deals in Iraq prior to a national oil law.

"We continue to advise companies from outside of Iraq that they incur significant political and legal risk in signing any contracts with any party inside of Iraq before a national (oil) law package is passed by the Iraq parliament," said Lawrence Butler, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.