Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani pictured at a meeting in Baghdad on August 24, 2025. Photo: IraqiPMO/X
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Prime Minister on Wednesday praised a newly signed tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil and international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region, which paves the way for the resumption of Kurdish oil exports. Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani reaffirmed that the longstanding disputes with the Kurdistan Region were “never political.”
In a video call-in to the Iraq Initiative Conference 2025 hosted by Chatham House, Sudani emphasized that the disagreements were “technical and legal, but not political.”
The federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and most IOCs on Monday signed an agreement to restart oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which had been halted since March 2023 following an international arbitration ruling.
Under the deal, the KRG commits to delivering some 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for export, while retaining 50,000 bpd for domestic use. The deal therefore grants Baghdad significant oversight over Kurdish oil exports.
Sudani said the tripartite agreement lays the foundation for a long-term resolution of financial disputes and establishes an "important foundation for moving toward the legislation of the Oil and Gas Law” - a crucial piece of legislation needed to clearly define the roles between the federal government, the Region and Iraqi provinces.
Iraq’s federal finance ministry in late May suspended budget transfers to the KRG, citing overspending beyond the KRG’s 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget - an action that froze salaries for around 1.2 million civil servants in the Kurdistan Region.
Sudani on Wednesday stressed the importance of reciprocal compliance to the tripartite deal, noting that when the KRG commits to submitting its full revenues, the federal government is obligated to grant the corresponding financial rights, ensuring "the welfare of our people in the Kurdistan Region."
“Our government is keen on the welfare of our people in the Kurdistan Region; this is a legitimate, national, and ethical matter,” he emphasized.
November ballot
Iraq is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on November 11.
Sudani reaffirmed his bid for a second term, pointing to his government's success in restoring “lost trust between the people, the political process, and state institutions.”
He described the upcoming vote as “an important step in strengthening and consolidating the democratic system” in Iraq, especially as they are “not brought about by pressure from any internal or external factors.”
The Iraqi premier further expressed confidence in his Construction and Development Coalition, which he says "enjoys popular acceptance" and is "qualified to win the largest number of seats" in Iraq’s 329-member legislature, due to its "clear vision, tangible achievements, and a proven national project."
"I aspire to form the next government to continue implementing this project," Sudani confirmed.
Regional conflicts
Turning to regional tensions, Sudani reiterated Iraq’s firm rejection of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The conflict began after the Palestinian movement Hamas on October 7, 2023 launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking approximately 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Of those, 47 hostages remain in Gaza, including 25 who the Israeli military believes are dead.
Israel responded with a widescale military campaign in Gaza, which the health ministry in Gaza says has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians to date.
Sudani condemned the Israeli military campaign as an “aggression, a genocide and a crime,” stressing that that “the Palestinian cause remains a core issue for the Iraqi people.”
On June 13, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting nuclear facilities and killing several high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets.
Tensions escalated further when the United States conducted airstrikes on June 22 against Iran’s Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites. In response, Iran fired ballistic missiles at the US-operated al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. A ceasefire, brokered by Washington on June 24, has since held.
Sudani condemned the Israeli military overflights in Iraqi airspace during the recent 12-day conflict, calling them a “blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.”
He emphasized that all Iraqi political forces were united in prioritizing the country’s sovereignty and stability throughout the escalation.
"Our political position was clear... in not allowing Iraq to be dragged into this war,” he said, adding that great efforts were exerted to prevent Iraq from being a "battlefield for conflicts or to wage a proxy war."
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