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Politics

Analysis: Iraq’s 2025 election results

Preliminary results paint a picture of the balance of power in the next Parliament and the dynamics likely to shape government formation and the energy sector.
Security guards stand at the entrance to a polling station in Basra on Nov. 11, 2025. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)
Nov 13, 2007

U.S. building military base to guard Iraq oil in Gulf

(Short post today, en route to Riyadh for the OPEC Summit) The U.S. is building a military installation at one of Iraq’s oil ports on the Gulf. Eventually, it is to be turned over to the Iraq Navy, Chip Cummins and Hassan Hafidh report for The Wall Street Journal. Their story also includes a good […]

Nov 12, 2007

TNK-BP affiliate one of 5 new oil deals with Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government

The KRG announced the deals Monday, five production sharing contracts with Norbest Limited, an affiliate of TNK-BP; a Korean National Oil Company-led consortium; Hillwood International Energy company HKN Energy; and with subsidiaries of UK-listed Sterling Energy LLC and Denver-based Aspect Energy LLC. Check out the KRG release. And, as always, Iraq Oil Report will have […]

Nov 1, 2007

Iraq oil, below the volatile south and north strife

Plus: Issam Chalabi, one-on-one Baghdad's uneven power distribution U.S. OK's Saddam-era oil law deals Tackling unemployment The most underrated powder keg in Iraq is located in the south -- away from Baghdad’s political beef and the Turkish invasion of Iraq’s northern front -- where 80 percent of Iraq’s proven oil reserves are located. Political factions, […]

Oct 31, 2007

U.S. OK’s Saddam oil law for today’s oil deals

The U.S. State Department says an oil law implemented under Saddam Hussein is good enough for Iraq’s national government to sign oil deals, though it would prefer a new national law -- mired in controversy and far from approved -- to be used instead. The new position is a shift for the U.S. government, or […]

Oct 26, 2007

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

Plus: A Turkish Invasion Update Iraq Oil Smuggling and Keeping Tabs on the Loot Iraqis Against Biden Remembering King Faisal II 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 […]

Oct 23, 2007

Two months before a breakdown in Iraqi politics over oil law, other issues

Iraq’s government spokesman, Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, detailed the struggles the Iraqi government faces during a speech Monday at the U.S. Institute of Peace. His focus was on the Turkish issue, Iranian influence, and militia and insurgent activity. On the oil law, he said there are a number of technical points to be ironed out, but […]