Iraq, US hold talks on oil dispute in Kurdish region

By Laith Al Junaidi and Tarek Chouiref

ISTANBUL (AA) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met late Sunday with US Chargé d’Affaires Steven Fagin in Baghdad to discuss the ongoing dispute over oil in the country’s northern Kurdish region, the Foreign Ministry said.

According to a ministry statement, the talks reviewed bilateral relations with a particular focus on the activities of American oil companies operating in Iraq. The two sides also discussed unresolved issues involving firms working in the Kurdish region and possible steps to restart crude exports.

The ministry said regional developments were also on the agenda, with Fagin outlining Washington’s position on the latest events in the Middle East.

Oil exports from the Kurdish region have been suspended for more than two years, costing the administration in Erbil an estimated $25 billion in lost revenue, according to figures released in June.

In July, Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to resolve the revenue-sharing dispute, a step seen as key to resuming shipments. The standoff had led to a halt in exports on March 25, 2023.