Peregraf
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the recent agreement between the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and international oil companies to reopen the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, emphasizing its benefits for both Iraq and the United States.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rubio said: “We welcome the announcement that the Government of Iraq has reached an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government and international companies to reopen the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline. This deal, facilitated by the United States, will bring tangible benefits for both Americans and Iraqis while reaffirming Iraq’s sovereignty.”
The agreement, announced earlier this week by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and KRG officials, ends a two-year deadlock over oil exports from the Kurdistan Region. The deal allows crude produced in the Kurdistan Region to be exported via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline through Ceyhan, Turkey, under a tripartite framework involving Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, and international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region.
Observers note that the reopening of the pipeline is expected to stabilize the Kurdistan Region’s finances, ensuring timely salary payments and revenue-sharing between Baghdad and Erbil, while reinforcing Iraq’s role in global energy markets.
Rubio’s statement highlights the United States’ role in facilitating the negotiations and underscores continued U.S. support for Iraq’s sovereignty and economic stability. The pipeline’s reopening is seen as a key step in strengthening Iraq-U.S. economic and strategic relations, as well as promoting energy security in the region.
The first shipments under the new agreement are expected to resume on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM (Local Time), through the Kurdistan Region-Ceyhan pipeline, marking a historic milestone in Iraq-KRG cooperation and regional energy trade.