Politics

Northern exports stalled by Baghdad-Erbil disputes

With southern oil exports choked off by war, Baghdad cannot use its only backup pipeline route because of a fight with the KRG over customs revenue control.

Oil tanks at Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, which is run by state-owned Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS). (UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters)

Mar 20, 2026

Northern pipeline restart offers limited relief

A political breakthrough unlocks Iraq's only secondary pipeline export outlet, but volumes are capped by infrastructure constraints and security threats.

Mar 12, 2026

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.

Mar 6, 2026

Oil field attack signals dire war risks for Kurdistan energy sector

Drone strikes on Sarsang raise new doubts for IOCs about the viability of restarting wartime oil production as the KRG demands security guarantees from Baghdad.

Mar 2, 2026

Damascus moves to centralize control over Syrian oil sector

Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria are losing their hold on the country’s largest oil fields as foreign investors look for opportunities.

Feb 24, 2026

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.

Feb 5, 2026

Iraq faces political disarray after Trump opposes Maliki’s return

Maliki defiantly asserts his right to lead the formation of a new government while Kurdish parties remain at odds over presidency.

Jan 19, 2026

Iran protests bring new volatility to Iraq’s politics and markets

Rising threats to Iran's regime have the potential to weaken Tehran's influence in Baghdad and disrupt cross-border trade and currency dynamics.

Dec 18, 2025

Chevron eyes Lukoil’s Iraq assets

The American company is emerging as the leading contender for the 480,000 bpd West Qurna 2 field as U.S. sanctions appear to be squeezing Lukoil out of Iraq.

Dec 10, 2025

Northern exports flow under promising but fragile oil and budget agreement

Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies appear to be implementing some key terms of a three-way oil export and budget deal, but ongoing success is hardly assured.

Dec 2, 2025

Kurdistan refinery protests spark deadly violence

At least one person is dead and several injured after security forces cracked down on unemployed truck drivers demanding work at the Lanaz refinery near Erbil.

Nov 19, 2025

Rosneft partially divests from Kurdistan’s export pipeline

In an apparent attempt to avoid exposure to U.S. sanctions, the company that operates Kurdistan's export pipeline has reduced Rosneft to a 49 percent share.