The Spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that Iraq’s Prime Minister has officially welcomed back foreign oil production companies, urging them to resume operations as soon as possible.

The official clarified that ensuring the security and operational safety of these firms is a shared responsibility split between Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) authorities and federal Iraqi security forces operating outside the Kurdistan Region's borders.

A High-Level Strategic Meeting

Salim Ruqabi, the Spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, disclosed to Channel8 that a high-level strategic meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The session was attended by the federal Minister of Oil, the Army Chief of Staff, the KRG Minister of Natural Resources, and representatives from foreign oil companies currently operating within the Kurdistan Region.

Resumption of Operations and Security Assurances

The meeting focused primarily on the challenges and bottlenecks preventing the return of foreign oil companies, with a particular emphasis on security guarantees. In response, Prime Minister Ali Zaidi pledged to review and resolve all outstanding issues. He formally welcomed the foreign companies back and urged them to immediately resume production operations across the region's oil fields.

Removing Obstacles as a Top Priority

Prime Minister al-Zaidi instructed all relevant authorities to prioritize identifying the root causes of the operational disruptions and to swiftly implement solutions that guarantee the safety of the companies and secure a stable working environment.

Spokesperson Ruqabi further elaborated on the security framework:

"Providing a secure operational environment is a joint responsibility. It falls upon the KRG authorities and its internal security apparatus within its borders. Concurrently, the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Defense have been tasked with maintaining security outside the Kurdistan Region’s administrative boundaries, alongside specialized local security forces assigned to the matter."

The Oil Ministry's Role and Pending Negotiations

The spokesperson emphasized that the Ministry of Oil is not directly responsible for issuing security guarantees; rather, the Prime Minister and his executive office are directly tracking the implementation of these protective measures.

On the technical and commercial front, federal Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudeir is reportedly dedicating significant attention to the file. While Minister Khudeir has successfully resolved many of the long-standing, suspended issues, certain demands from both sides are still undergoing rigorous evaluation and negotiation.

Land-Based Exports on the Rise

Addressing current logistics, Ruqabi told Channel8 that the export of crude oil and petroleum products via land routes through Syrian territory is ongoing, with export volumes showing a steady and continuous increase.

Iraq-Turkey Pipeline Nears Completion

Furthermore, the spokesperson noted that Iraqi crude oil exports continue to flow through Turkish territory utilizing the existing Kurdistan Region pipelines. Simultaneously, rehabilitation work on the federal Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) is progressing steadily. Maintenance operations are projected to wrap up by the end of this month, which will allow for the immediate resumption of crude oil exports through that corridor.