Politics

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.

A demonstration in Tehran on Jan. 12, 2026. (MASOUD SHAHRESTANI/Wikimedia Commons)

Nov 29, 2007

Iraq Parliament “takes on” KRG deals … Virtual Iraq Oil Contracts … No Civilians in Iraq … New Report: Iraq’s Refugee Crisis

The KRG oil deals controversy is being raised in Parliament, the Associated Press reports. There is likely little to be done outside of a back room settlement to the dispute. And that’s very unlikely. The Kurdistan Alliance is a necessary component of the current coalition government that is holding on by a thread. The KA […]

Nov 27, 2007

Showdown: Baghdad vs. Irbil … Iraqi Kurds’ Oil Prerogatives … and more ….

*The Kurdish oil minister speaks his mind. *Shahristani: Kurds used military to prevent oil development by Baghdad *Kurds self sufficient and producing 1 million barrels in five years Iraqi Kurdistan's oil minister, Ashti Hawrami, begins his U.S. tour of political and business leaders from Washington to Texas a hot item with international oil companies, but […]

Nov 26, 2007

Oil makes the politics go round … Iraq’s political situation further fracturing … Bush and Maliki, best friends forever …

Iraq Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has gone beyond simply calling the Kurdistan Regional Government’s oil deals "illegal." He has now reportedly "nullified" the dozens of contracts with international oil companies, AFP reports. Of course, political logistics are another matter. There’s only so much the Kurds need to take, considering without them the coalition government Shahristani […]

Nov 20, 2007

Iraqi Kurds vs. Baghdad heats up over oil deals … Kirkuk vote unclear … Unspinning the Surge … Remembering Basra

Iraqi Kurds issued a scathing rebuke of Iraq's oil minister, who has warned companies signing deals in the north will be kept out of the rest of the country. "Our contracts with the (international oil companies) are both constitutional and legal within the framework of the Kurdistan Oil and Gas Law, the only existing framework […]

Nov 16, 2007

Shahristani all for non-”opportunist” oil firms … Iraq production up in north and south … Forgotten Halabja survivors

Oil companies are welcome to Iraq, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said, except for the "opportunist" firms already in Iraqi Kurd territory -- Ben Lando for United Press International. Iraq is producing nearly 2.5 million barrels per day, a giant step forward, as the security situation improves, its oil minister said -- Ben Lando for UPI. […]

Nov 15, 2007

Shahristani on KRG deals … billions to boost production … Iraq gas for Nabucco … Electricity hunt

(Note to readers: Iraq Oil Report this week will continue to be the fully packed but contextually abridged version as the OPEC Summit in Riyadh cares not for the tired and overworked. Enjoy!) Also, click HERE to get an e-mail notification when the Iraq Oil Report is updated. Iraq’s Oil In a move that could […]

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 5, 2007

Iraq says “No,” again, to Lukoil deal … Smuggling Iraq’s fortunes … The Turkish Invasion

An oil deal signed between Russian oil giant Lukoil and Saddam Hussein has long been relegated as null and void by Iraq’s Oil Ministry. It’s for a major oil field, with 11 billion barrels, but Iraq says Saddam cancelled it and would not uphold or renegotiated any deals that weren’t active at the time of […]

Nov 2, 2007

Syria wants to process Iraq oil — Iraqi gas to power Europe — Target: President Talabani

(Apologies. I am travelling and the brief format of today's update reflects that. Monday brings normalcy to the Iraq Oil Report.) Syria Plans $3 Billion Refinery to Process Iraqi Oil, Maher Chmaytelli writes for Bloomberg. - Iraq, other Arab states will supply Europe with gas next year, the Gulf Daily News reports. - Opportunities in […]