Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil for Gas Affairs, Dr. Izzat Sabir Ismail, issued a formal statement strongly denying online allegations of illegal activity and rumors of an outstanding arrest warrant against him.

Characterizing the claims circulating on social media as entirely baseless, Sabir confirmed he is continuing his regular ministerial duties in Baghdad and intends to take legal action against the sources of the reports.

"For the past few days, several anonymous pages and accounts have published false news about me, claiming that I have engaged in illegal activities and that an arrest warrant has been issued against me," Sabir said in a statement. "This news is completely far from the truth, and I am currently continuing my daily work at the Ministry of Oil."

Jurisdictional Clearances Over Khor Mor Field

To demonstrate the factual inaccuracy of the online claims, the Deputy Minister pointed to the constitutional division of energy contracts between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.

The rumors had reportedly attempted to link Sabir to energy operations at the Khor Mor gas field, a critical energy hub operated by United Arab Emirates-based Dana Gas in the Sulaymaniyah governorate. Sabir clarified that the federal Ministry of Oil holds no administrative or contractual authority over those specific operations.

"The falsehood of this information is further proven by the fact that Dana Gas signed its contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government, not the Iraqi Ministry of Oil," Sabir noted. "The Khor Mor pipeline, the Khor Mor field, and Khor Mor's production fall entirely under the jurisdiction of the Regional Government."

Commitment to Accountability

Sabir, who has managed Iraq's federal gas portfolio since his appointment, emphasized his long-standing compliance with state anti-corruption frameworks. He stated that his financial records have been consistently open to federal investigators.

"From the day I assumed office until now, I have submitted my financial disclosure forms to the Iraqi Commission of Integrity every year, and I am always ready for accountability," the Deputy Minister stated.

The oil ministry official concluded by declaring his intention to seek formal recourse through the legal system to address the online defamation. "I consider it my right to file a lawsuit against those pages and accounts," Sabir said.