Politics

Deadly political divisions raise risks for Kurdistan

Rivalries between political leaders in Sulaimaniya have exploded into violence and undermined relations between Iraqi Kurdistan’s two ruling parties at a key political moment.

Bafel Talabani (left) and Lahur Talabany (right) at a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party gathering on June 15, 2021. (Source: PUK Media)

Feb 28, 2008

Iraq’s oil law, KRG vs. Baghdad and making deals on their own and what is Iraq’s oil potential…

Plus: *Iraqi Kurds, Iraqi Arabs, Washington and Ankara square up over the Turkish invasion into northern Iraq *Kirkuk pipeline to Turkey stops *Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq challenged in southern provincial strongholds *Iraq Press Roundup *Much, much more… Iraq's draft oil law is stalled in Parliament, the national government and Kurdistan Regional Government are moving […]

Feb 27, 2008

Today’s Iraq Oil Report is a cultural and political wrap-up, still vital information if you’re following Iraq’s oil sector.

Iraq’s Kurdish government says it will allow its security forces to confront Turkey if the Turkish troops chase Kurdish separatists into civilian areas, Asso Ahmed and Tina Susman report for the Los Angeles Times. Turkish troops are digging deeper into Iraq territory, John Affleck reports for The Associated Press. And violence in the rest of […]

Feb 26, 2008

Iraq, Turkey and U.S. to hold trilateral energy talks in Istanbul next month…

Plus: *Latest on the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq *Iraq oil experts meet in Paris *Electricity workers, ministry agree to talk after sit-ins *The Iraq Press Roundup *Much, much more… (Editor’s Note: Apologies to Iraq Oil Report’s subscribers who have received messages in triplicate over the past two days. IOR has resolved a problem with […]

Feb 24, 2008

International actions urge against Iraq oil law, say no good oil decisions can be made under occupation…

Plus: *A recap of Iraq’s current and potential oil sector *Petrel Resources gets Iraq oil extension, ready for bids *Reliance Industries staying out *Electricity Ministry demands more money to provide power *Much, much more… A coalition of U.S. veterans, unions and activists, who fear Iraq’s draft oil law is part of an orchestrated effort to […]

Feb 21, 2008

Iraq and Iran meet in Tehran this week to discuss first Gulf War leftovers, including oil, border disputes and mines…

Plus: *Status of the oil law update *Oil Minister Shahristani on CNN Marketplace Middle East *Corruption enemy #1 *Journalists in Basra allege South Oil Company and other security forces abuse *Baghdad takes page from Giuliani’s NYC book in dealing with poor, homeless *The Baghdad-Basra express restarts A senior Iraqi delegation in Iran isn't directly focused […]

Jan 24, 2008

Talks on Iraq’s oil disputes not officially happening …

Plus: *Iraq oil exports up last year *But the northern pipeline is down *And last week production dropped *Oil Minister in Davos says OPEC output OK *Babil province talking tough over blackouts Despite rumors that oil law negotiations were going to restart, it appears not so, United Press International reports. The Kurdistan Regional Government and […]

Jan 23, 2008

Are Baghdad-Kurd talks on oil issues about to start again?…

Plus: *Oil from Kirkuk expected to restart soon *National Security chief survives ambush *What's in a flag? *New Baath law reservations *more... Iraq's Kurdish oil leaders are in Baghdad to clear an impasse over oil control, though the national oil minister is reportedly not in town. That could be the point, since some Kurdish leaders […]

Jan 21, 2008

Disputes between Iraq’s national government and Kurdish region keep taking their toll…

The national Oil Ministry intends to move forward on developing the oil and gas sector, while it cuts out companies who have signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government, deals Baghdad calls illegal. Meanwhile there's no sign of any breakthrough on the oil law. Iraq's Oil Ministry has reportedly cut current and will block future deals […]

Jan 18, 2008

U.S. audit can’t determine how much Iraq ministries spent on capital projects ….

Plus: *Oil Ministry cracks down more on oil firms signing deals with Kurds *Kirkuk pipeline cutting short planned oil sales *Oil refineries, power plants have a bad week *Much, much more… Iraq's Oil Ministry spent $558 million on capital projects in 2007 to improve its struggling oil sector. Or $500 million. Or only $270,000. A […]

Jan 15, 2008

New anti-Kurd oil deal block has majority in Parliament …

Plus: *Kurd leader Barzani says Kirkuk vote a must *Who supports Shahristani on the KRG deals? *$558M spent in Iraq oil sector, but no details, no transparency *U.S. blamed for Basra refinery fire *The Iraq Press Roundup *and More A majority of Iraq's parliamentarians have signed an agreement against Iraqi Kurds' moves to unilaterally develop […]