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Iraq Completes Preparations to Resume Kurdistan’s Oil Exports

Sudani receives Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, in Baghdad (Iraqi Prime Minister’s office).
Sudani receives Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, in Baghdad (Iraqi Prime Minister’s office).
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Iraq Completes Preparations to Resume Kurdistan’s Oil Exports

Sudani receives Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, in Baghdad (Iraqi Prime Minister’s office).
Sudani receives Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, in Baghdad (Iraqi Prime Minister’s office).

Iraq has completed preparations to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan region through the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline via the port of Ceyhan, the Ministry of Oil announced on Saturday. The move aligns with the budget law and Iraq’s OPEC production quota.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stressed the urgency of restarting oil production and exports during a meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. His statement followed a Reuters report claiming the administration of US President Donald Trump was pressuring Baghdad to resume Kurdistan’s oil exports or face sanctions alongside Iran.

Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani confirmed that exports from Kurdistan would restart within a week, resolving a nearly two-year dispute that halted crude flows. He added that negotiations are ongoing in Erbil between federal and regional oil officials to finalize export mechanisms, with a target of 300,000 barrels per day through the state-owned SOMO company.

The suspension of oil exports from Kurdistan and Kirkuk since March 2023 has cost Iraq over $17 billion, according to experts. The longstanding dispute over oil management between Baghdad and Erbil often revolved around Kurdistan’s failure to meet its agreed quota of 250,000 barrels per day in the federal budget, leading to funding cuts.

Despite improved relations between Al-Sudani’s government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), uncertainty remains about when exports will resume. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar recently stated that Ankara had not received official notice from Baghdad about restarting shipments, adding to the uncertainty.

Iraqi officials have issued conflicting statements. The prime minister’s advisor, Farhad Alaaldin, denied reports of possible US sanctions over delayed oil exports, while Deputy Speaker of Parliament Shakhwan Abdullah suggested that the Trump administration might introduce new economic measures against Iraq.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Kifah Mahmoud, media advisor to Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani, argued that political motives, rather than technical issues, are delaying oil exports. He accused factions in Baghdad of obstructing Kurdistan’s economic progress and opposing its federal status. He also pointed to recent attacks on energy infrastructure in the region as part of broader efforts to weaken Kurdistan’s autonomy.

Despite the challenges, Mahmoud remains optimistic that exports will resume soon. One key step was addressing oil company concerns by increasing the extraction cost per barrel in Kurdistan to $16 through amendments to the federal budget law.

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Arab World

Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
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Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD

Eid al-Fitr in Syria was charged with newfound joy this year, as thousands freely celebrated the holiday for the first time after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

From the early morning hours, crowds of men, women and children flocked to pray at Damascus's historic Umayyad Mosque in the Old City.

"This is the first time we truly feel the joy of Eid, after getting rid of Assad's tyrannical regime," Fatima Othman told AFP.

Following prayer, worshippers exchanged Eid greetings while street vendors sold colorful balloons and toys to children posing for photos with their parents.

"Our celebration is doubled after Assad's fall," said Ghassan Youssef, a resident of the capital.

A few kilometers (miles) away, on the slopes of Mount Qasyun overlooking Damascus -- a site previously off-limits to Syrians until Assad was deposed on December 8 -- a few thousand people gathered at Unknown Soldier Square for an open-air prayer.

Among them were members of the security forces and the army, dressed in uniform and armed. The road leading to the square was packed, according to an AFP photographer.

Some worshippers distributed sweets to celebrate, while the three-star Syrian flag, adopted by the new authorities, waved in the air.

Under the previous government, access to the Unknown Soldier monument was typically restricted to Assad and his close associates, who would lay wreaths there during national ceremonies.

'Celebration of celebrations!'
The memorial, where a giant screen broadcast the Eid prayer, is near the presidential palace.

There, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa prayed alongside Syria's new mufti Osama al-Rifai and several cabinet ministers in the presence of a large crowd.

He later delivered a speech emphasizing the country faced "a long and arduous road to reconstruction but possesses all the resources needed to recover".

This came two days after the formation of a new government, which faces daunting challenges in a country devastated by 14 years of civil war.

Wael Hamamiya, who had been in Sweden since the early days of the conflict, returned to Damascus to celebrate Eid with his family.

"This is my first Eid here in nearly 15 years. I truly feel the celebration in its full meaning," he told AFP, beaming.

"Everyone who has come is over the moon. This is the celebration of celebrations!"

The occasion was more somber for some Syrians, who were able to visit the graves of loved ones that had been off-limits during Assad reign, especially in former opposition strongholds.

At al-Rawda Cafe in Damascus, 36-year-old Amer Hallaq chatted with friends after returning from exile in Berlin where he ended up after dodging compulsory military service in 2014.

"For years, I thought I'd never see my family again or celebrate Eid with them," Hallaq said.

"The joy of liberation and victory is immense, but there's still a lot of work ahead. This is only the beginning of the road."