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A profound change is coming to the region that will affect both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and we are preparing for it, Dana Ahmed Majid, General Coordinator of the Change Movement, told his party members in Sulaimani’s Raparin Administration. He added that Western Kurdistan (northeastern Syria) and Southern Kurdistan (the Kurdistan Region) are closely interconnected, with developments in Syria poised to impact Iraq and the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.

https://x.com/zoomnewskrd/status/1966858149844910133

ERBIL — Iraq is incurring heavy financial losses from the ongoing suspension of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, with daily losses estimated at $11.16 million and annual losses projected to exceed $4 billion, according to a new report by the Eco Iraq Observatory.

In a statement released Saturday, the economic watchdog attributed the crisis to the Iraqi Parliament’s failure to pass a long-awaited oil and gas law, which would regulate resource management between Baghdad and Erbil.

The Observatory calculated that, after deducting production and transportation costs—about $16 per barrel plus $1.50 for delivery to Turkey’s Ceyhan port—daily profits from exports would have reached $11.16 million, based on an average sale price of $66 per barrel.

“This daily loss quickly accumulates, leading to $334 million in monthly losses and more than $4 billion annually for Iraq due to halted exports,” the Observatory warned.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/894440

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/863393/iraq-is-losing-more-than-11-million-every-day-as-baghdad-blocks-kurdistan-oil-exports

The KRG oil case has no global parallel between a federal region and its central government, meaning no precedent to build on. This is why a breakthrough is so difficult without either a symmetric restructuring of relations or the construction of a new model from scratch:

The foundation of this dispute rests on an extraordinary separation between contractual authority and export control: a federal government that holds the pipeline but refuses to underwrite sub-national contracts it never signed; IOCs seeking federal guarantees while withholding their PSCs; and a jurisdictional tug-of-war between international arbitration and Iraqi courts. This combination, sub-national-only contracts, federal control over the export chokepoint, competing legal forums, and dual-track contracting by the same IOCs, makes the KRG oil dispute truly sui generis, without parallel anywhere else in the world.

https://x.com/NatlContext/status/1966507309246341152

https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1966510858172862576

The KRG spokesperson, Peshawa Hawrami, told KDP media that if no agreement is reached with the Iraqi government, they may withdraw from the political process and not participate in the November elections.

He said, “We hope to reach an agreement with Iraq, but if we don’t, we have several options before us, including not participating in the elections and withdrawing from the political process.”

https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1966443417715540443

KRG officials also called for the region to be included in international loans and projects granted to Iraq by foreign countries.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced plans to provide medicines and medical equipment to health institutions across the region, while urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to pressure the Iraqi federal government to supply medicines, equipment, and medical materials to the Kurdistan Region.

https://channel8.com/english/news/44379

Https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1966146855839928387

The Iraqi Council of Ministers on Thursday submitted a letter to the State Council asking the body to offer its opinion on the issue of the Kurdistan Region’s non-oil revenues, a senior source from the Iraqi cabinet told The New Region.

The State Council is an independent judicial body, specializing in administrative cases. Any decision the Council, which consists of several courts, makes must be adhered to by both Erbil and Baghdad.

The New Region has learned that the State Council is expected to convene a meeting next week and discuss the issue, coming after the Iraqi cabinet rejected a proposal by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite the proposal reportedly being viewed in a positive light by the Iraqi negotiating delegation.

https://thenewregion.com/posts/3022

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesman Peshawa Hawramani said disputes between Erbil and Baghdad over revenue sharing should be resolved by adhering to the law, stressing that the issue of oil exports is between the oil companies and the federal government.

Regarding the issue of oil, he stressed that the dispute remains between the oil companies and the federal government. “We have a good understanding with SOMO,” he highlighted.

Hawramani underlined that although an agreement was reached with the federal government on the oil issue, it has not been fully implemented. He said talks between the Iraqi side and the oil companies are ongoing, while emphasizing the need to consider the situation of salaried employees in the Kurdistan Region.

https://channel8.com/english/news/44342

KRG Presses Baghdad on Revenues, Moves to Resume Oil Exports

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government is pressing ahead with steps to restart oil exports through Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), KRG’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammad Salih said on Wednesday.

He noted that talks are ongoing with the federal Oil Ministry and foreign companies to reach what he described as a “joint and balanced” agreement. The Council of Ministers instructed his ministry to intensify efforts to remove obstacles and secure the earliest possible resumption of exports, with revenues to be deposited in the federal treasury

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/894248

New: footage shows KRG crude oil being exported outside Baghdad’s approval to Turkey via the Ibrahim Khalil border gate in Duhok province. Tankers are seen in a square near the crossing before heading toward Silopi inside Turkey.

The crude is reportedly being sent to the Tüpraş Batman Oil Refinery. At present, a larger share of the oil is being directed to Turkey, while many of the tankers going to Iran are carrying refined oil products from the KRG’s own refineries.

https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1965794224005120125

Https://thenewregion.com/posts/3013

Baghdad Splits the KRG Oil File: Khurmala Separated from IOC Demands:

An interesting move by the Iraqi government: it now demands only KRG oil produced by domestic companies, meaning Khurmala oil operated by KAR Group. This effectively separates it from the APIKUR file, while also carrying political weight since Khurmala lies in disputed territory:

https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1965485445737054215

https://thenationalcontext.com/baghdad-splits-the-krg-oil-file-khurmala-separated-from-ioc-demands/

The proposal was unanimously supported by ministers, with Sudani declaring that Baghdad would no longer wait for international oil companies to act. “We will take whatever oil the Kurdistan Region produces, and we will no longer allow the oil companies in the Kurdistan Region to exploit us,” he said, in remarks viewed as a clear shift in federal policy toward the energy firms operating there.

Key Meeting Expected Wednesday:

An adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Channel8 that a broad meeting will be held Wednesday to finalize mechanisms for resuming exports. According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Natural Resources, daily oil production in the region currently stands at about 230,000 barrels.

https://channel8.com/english/news/44254

According to Saleh, the companies now control 40–45% of the oil outright, as stipulated in their contracts with the KRG. This means the KRG no longer simply shares revenue but has effectively ceded part of the oil itself, allowing the companies to sell it however they choose. He also notes that the companies provided the KRG with $6 billion in advance payments, the fate of which remains unknown.

One of the central sticking points, Saleh explains, is the written guarantee demanded by both the companies and the KRG. The Iraqi government rejects this because the companies want a clause stipulating that any disputes be resolved in international courts outside Iraq, rather than under Iraqi jurisdiction. Baghdad says it is willing to provide written guarantees, but only for what is outlined in the amended budget law: $16 per barrel for production costs, pending a final settlement of actual field-by-field costs by international auditors but rejects such demands as internationalising oil disputes it deems its sovereign oil.

https://x.com/KurdistanWatch/status/1965424765868671437

An informed source revealed on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) that the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation entered a meeting with the federal government delegation a short time ago, in preparation for resolving the outstanding files between the two parties before the Iraqi Cabinet meeting that will be held today.

The source said in an interview with "Baghdad Today" that "regarding the oil export file, a decisive and comprehensive agreement has been reached on the resumption of exports, and it is waiting to be approved in the cabinet meeting," noting that "work is currently underway to resolve the internal revenue point, as it is the only obstacle, and if a solution is not reached on it, it will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration and a vote on the final agreement."

https://baghdadtoday.news/282823-.html

As part of ongoing efforts to resolve disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq, the KRG’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources announced that Iraq’s SOMO company has agreed to provide guarantees to international oil companies.

However, while SOMO insists companies must revert to Iraqi law in case of disputes, the oil companies demand recourse to international law.

https://channel8.com/english/news/44107

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) said on Monday that they are “working to implement the agreed-upon terms” to resume the Kurdistan Region’s long-halted oil exports, with exports expected to restart “soon.”

“I am optimistic about the positive measures and discussions taking place. Everyone is working in this direction, and this is cause for optimism. All that remains is implementation, so we are optimistic that it will be achieved soon,” Ali Nizar Faiq, director general of SOMO, told Rudaw.

Oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region are demanding a tripartite signed agreement that includes the federal oil ministry and the Kurdistan Region's natural resources ministry to guarantee the payment of their dues.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/interview/08092025

ERBIL — Turkey is working to elevate both its energy cooperation and long-standing relations with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, with hopes pinned on the resumption of oil exports through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, a senior Turkish energy official said on Saturday.

Speaking at the Baghdad International Energy Forum, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ahmet Berat Conkar highlighted Ankara’s close monitoring of talks between international oil companies, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and Baghdad over restarting oil flows.

“Our Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline has been operating since the 1970s. Recently, a resumption of oil flow has been spoken about. We are closely following this with Iraq,” Conkar told Anadolu Agency.

He said that negotiations between the central government and the KRG are nearing conclusion, expressing optimism that once outstanding issues are resolved, the pipeline will return to full capacity.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/893962

APIKUR confirms — having continued discussions with federal authorities including SOMO, aimed at reaching a formal written agreement.😎

On Saturday, Col. Myles B. Caggins III, spokesperson for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), told Kurdistan24 that more than two and a half years have passed since the last oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, and so far, no official agreement has been reached to resume the shipments.

Coggins noted that the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, the federal oil authorities, and oil companies—including APIKUR and SOMO—have continued discussions aimed at reaching a formal written agreement. He emphasized that all companies represented by APIKUR are calling for a signed agreement with Baghdad before resuming any oil exports.

He also revealed that there had been efforts by the U.S. government to encourage Iraq’s Prime Minister to push for a written agreement to restart the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports. Regarding the companies themselves, Coggins stated that each company decides independently when to resume shipments, but APIKUR has consistently emphasized the necessity of a formal agreement.

Coggins further highlighted that the companies seek to ensure that their rights and entitlements are protected and that their financial terms under the agreements are fully respected.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/862111/somo-chief-tells-kurdistan24-oil-export-deals-sealed-as-baghdaderbil-talks-move-forward

Surely, one day, it'll all come true🤞

#BREAKING: In the coming days, Baghdad will reach an agreement with international oil companies and the KRG to resume Kurdish oil exports - Senior Iraqi official tells Rudaw

Speaking to reporters, Iraqi FM Hussein Hussein said:

It is a tripartite issue, and we expect an agreement between the federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the oil companies in the coming days

https://x.com/RudawEnglish/status/1964289325199139106

https://channel8.com/english/news/44023