Several Western governments and diplomats on Friday welcomed Thursday’s agreement between the Iraqi federal government, international oil companies (IOCs), and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resume oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which had been halted since 2023.
Read More: Kurdistan’s Oil Exports Set to Re-enter the Global Market
On Thursday, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani both announced that a historical agreement had been reached after months of negotiations by teams on both sides. “With this step, oil from Kurdistan Region’s fields will again enter the global market,” KRG Prime Minister Barzani wrote on X on Thursday.
The German Embassy in Iraq congratulates the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the agreement to reopen the export pipeline to Turkiye, which is central for effective cooperation and a key for stability and prosperity in Iraq and the wider region. https://t.co/9NC0bXXQKA
— German Embassy in Baghdad (@GermanyinIraq) September 26, 2025
Germany’s Embassy in Iraq in a post on X congratulated the Iraqi federal government and the KRG on the deal, underlining that this is “central for effective cooperation and a key for stability and prosperity in Iraq and the wider region.”
The European Union Delegation in Iraq welcomes the agreement between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to reopen the export pipeline to Turkiye. pic.twitter.com/Q8RxIQKfmk
— EU in Iraq ???? (@EUinIraq) September 26, 2025
The EU Delegation in Iraq also welcomed the agreement, adding that “effective cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the KRG is key for consolidating stability and prosperity in the country and the region.”
پێشوازی لە رێککەوتنی راگەیندراوی دوێنێی نێوان حکومەتی فیدڕال و حکومەتی هەرێمی کوردستان دەکەم دەربارەی دەست پێکردنەوەی هەناردەکردنی نەوتی بەرهەمهاتووی هەرێم. جێبەجێکردنی ئەم رێککەوتنامەیە لە بەرژەوەندی هەموو لایەکە.@FranceErbil @YannBraem
— Patrick Durel (@FrPatrickDurel) September 26, 2025
Patrick Durel, France’s Ambassador to Iraq, stated in a post on X that “the implementation of this agreement is in everyone’s interest.”
The UK’s Embassy in Baghdad and UK Consulate General in Erbil also welcomed the agreement in a joint statement posted on X. “This agreement marks an important step forward for stronger investment, and greater prosperity for all the people of Iraq,” they said.
— UK in Erbil (@ukinerbil) September 26, 2025
“We commend both Baghdad and Erbil for their commitment to dialogue in reaching this milestone.”
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the deal in a post on X. “This deal, facilitated by the United States, will bring tangible benefits for both Americans and Iraqis while reaffirming Iraq’s sovereignty.”
Read More: Majority of Oil Companies Reach Deal on Oil Exports
Kurdish crude oil exports through Turkey were halted on March 25, 2023, after an international arbitration court ruled in Baghdad’s favor against Ankara, cutting off around 450,000 barrels per day from international markets.
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…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 25, 2025
Despite numerous negotiations involving the Iraqi government, the KRG, and IOCs, efforts to restart exports had until yesterday failed.
