Washington supports efforts by Iraq and Syria to restore the oil pipeline between the two countries, as this will theoretically help reduce the dependence of international supplies on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's policies, Reuters and Bloomberg report, citing sources in the US government familiar with the situation.
According to the agencies' interlocutors, US President Donald Trump's special envoy Tom Barrack is involved in negotiations with both countries. In addition to the Iraqi and Syrian authorities, he also discussed the initiative with the oil company Chevron.
The White House expects U.S. companies to take part in restoring and using the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, which has remained largely dormant since it was damaged during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The reconstructed pipeline will run from Iraqi oil fields to the western coast of Syria. This is one of several attempts by oil producers in the Middle East to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil and gas was supplied before the start of the US and Israeli military operation against Iran this year, Reuters adds.
The topic of oil in Iraq on Tuesday, July 14, was raised during Trump’s negotiations with the country’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. At a meeting at the White House, the president spoke of “huge oil reserves” that are already generating “enormous real revenues” for the Middle Eastern state.
“[Американские] oil companies are establishing partnerships with Iraq, and they are doing very well. Relationships are important, we don't need military action. We are here to help them, to protect them if necessary, but we don’t think that will be necessary,” Trump explained.
The two heads of state did not officially announce the signing of any agreements on the extraction of energy resources or the restoration of the oil pipeline. Trump emphasized that the United States plans to complete the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq this year. It will take place until September 30 as part of an agreement on Baghdad's disarmament of Shiite militias considered to be associated with Iran.
The United States recently maintained a contingent of 2,500 troops in Iraq, who, together with the Iraqi military, participated in separate operations against the remaining Islamic State cells in the country.
Arriving in Washington for the first time, 41-year-old al-Zaidi stressed that we are not talking about ending economic cooperation with the United States. The businessman previously became a compromise candidate in Iraq after a protracted political crisis related to the choice of prime minister following parliamentary elections last year, the Associated Press (AP) notes.
