Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani recently emphasized the importance of resuming Kurdish oil exportsduring key calls with Kurdish leaders. On Saturday, he personally reached out to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to express his gratitude for their commitment. The calls highlighted the collaborative effort that led to an agreement ending a two-and-a-half-year halt on Kurdish oil shipments.
Sudani also spoke with Masoud Barzani, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader, and Bafel Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). He thanked them for their significant roles in bringing this deal to fruition.
According to Sudani’s office, he deeply appreciated the political leadership within the Kurdistan Region. Their united stance helped pave the way for the agreement to resume exporting Kurdish oil and to transfer the revenues to Iraq’s central treasury.
The Kurdistan Region presidency released a statement confirming that Sudani thanked President Nechirvan Barzani for his unwavering support. Barzani’s continuous efforts played a vital role at every negotiation stage.
This collaboration fostered understanding between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) regarding oil exports. Such cooperation has been crucial in ending the long-standing export suspension and successfully resuming Kurdish oil exports.
Sudani described the agreement as a “significant step forward” in resolving disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. He emphasized that it should positively impact Iraq’s economic stability in the coming years.
Meanwhile, President Barzani expressed his appreciation for Sudani’s dedication. Barzani highlighted that the deal opens new opportunities for both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole.
After more than two years of negotiations, the KRG, the federal government, and international oil firms finally agreed to resume oil exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan Port. These exports had stopped in March 2023 following a Paris-based arbitration court ruling.
The court found Ankara violated a 1973 pipeline deal with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to independently export oil starting in 2014.
Sudani also conveyed his thanks directly to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for his efforts in reaching this crucial agreement. The Kurdish prime minister, in turn, thanked Sudani for removing obstacles that delayed the implementation.
A KRG statement described their discussions as celebrating a major achievement that benefits all Iraqi citizens.
Both sides agreed on the importance of including the Kurdistan Region’s rightful share in Iraq’s 2026 federal budget. This agreement signals a new chapter of cooperation and progress between Baghdad and Erbil. With the deal in place, the path to resuming Kurdish oil exports seems more promising than ever.
