Kurdish PM says KRG agrees to Baghdad request to resume oil exports via Turkey pipeline

Peregraf - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani says the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has agreed to Baghdad’s request to resume oil exports through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline to Turkey “as soon as possible,” citing the “extraordinary circumstances” facing the country.

He said talks with the federal government will continue to address restrictions on trade and imports in the Kurdistan Region, as well as to secure guarantees for international oil companies to safely restart operations.

Barzani also acknowledged the role of the United States in facilitating the process, thanking Washington for its support.

The announcement marks a significant shift after days of escalating tensions, during which Baghdad threatened legal action and insisted on federal control over export infrastructure under the Iraq–Turkey Pipeline agreement. 

The decision could pave the way for the restart of exports through the Iraq–Turkey pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, a key route that has remained largely inactive amid disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

Iraq had previously said it was preparing to export between 200,000 and 250,000 barrels per day from Kirkuk, with the potential to increase volumes to around 450,000 barrels per day if flows from the Kurdistan Region are included.

The dispute has unfolded against a backdrop of regional instability and disruptions affecting global energy routes, increasing pressure on Iraq to restore export capacity.

While no firm timeline has been confirmed, officials indicate that flows could resume within days if technical and political arrangements are finalised.