Washington, Baghdad agree on need to Reopen Oil Pipeline

By John Lee.

The United States and Iraq have agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, and to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP), which can transport oil from Northern Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

In an announcement following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani on Tuesday, the State Department added that the two agreed on the need for Iraq to honor contractual terms for U.S. companies working in Iraq to attract additional investment

Full statement from US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani today. The Secretary and Prime Minister Sudani discussed the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and the importance of Iraq's stability and sovereignty. The Secretary and Prime Minister also discussed reducing Iran's malign influence and continuing efforts to prevent ISIS from resurging and destabilizing the broader region. The two agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, and to honor contractual terms for U.S. companies working in Iraq to attract additional investment.

The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of Syria not becoming a haven for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors. The Secretary and Prime Minister committed to continuing to consult on issues in the region and to advance the U.S.-Iraq security partnership.

(Source: US State Dept)