On July 17, 2026, Iraq and Syria signed a significant agreement to restore an oil pipeline that connects Kirkuk in northern Iraq to Syria's Mediterranean coast. This pipeline, which has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, has been inactive since it was damaged during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The signing took place at a Chamber of Commerce summit in Washington D.C., attended by U.S.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who emphasized the potential for Iraq to improve its oil production and reduce reliance on unstable neighboring countries.
Iraq, currently the second-largest oil producer in OPEC, has faced severe disruptions in oil exports due to geopolitical tensions, particularly during the U.S.-Iran conflict, which saw its production drop from about 4.2 million barrels per day in February to approximately 1.9 million barrels per day in June.
The agreement is part of a broader trend among Gulf states to enhance pipeline capacity and mitigate risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz.
However, analysts caution that while new pipelines can provide alternative routes, they do not eliminate the underlying threats posed by Iran to energy infrastructure in the region, as highlighted by Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy, who noted that Iran could still target critical facilities along these pipelines