Iraq signs one-year deal with Turkey to transport oil through pipeline to Ceyhan port
When knots of regional conflicts tighten on the Middle East map and the Strait of Hormuz becomes a geopolitical chessboard, every new route for black gold gains strategic weight. Iraq, whose economy is 90 percent dependent on oil exports, is not just looking for a pipe to pump crude – it needs a reliable artery that can bypass zones of turbulence. Turkey, in turn, is strengthening its role as an energy bridge between East and West. The one-year agreement signed on Saturday is not merely a resumption of supplies; it is an attempt by the two countries to forge a new anchor of stability in a region where every barrel can be both a blessing and a weapon.
On Saturday, Iraq signed a one-year agreement with Turkey to transport and ship Iraqi oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, the Iraqi oil ministry said. Under the deal, Iraq will export no less than 750,000 barrels of oil per day through the pipeline, Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair said in a statement published by the ministry's press office.
"Iraqi and Turkish companies will start implementing the agreement, and the governments of the two countries will move forward in a carefully planned process to complete a comprehensive framework agreement covering the oil, electricity and water sectors, as well as other areas of cooperation that serve our common interests and support development and stability," Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on his X account.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on X that the pipeline, which ensures safe and uninterrupted delivery of Iraqi oil to world markets through Ceyhan, now holds a more strategic position than ever before in terms of regional and global energy security, as confirmed by developments in global oil markets.
The deal was reached after a long-term agreement governing Iraqi oil exports via Ceyhan expired on Monday. Baghdad is seeking alternative export routes to diversify its channels amid ongoing regional tensions that are affecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq's economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, which account for about 90 percent of state revenues. Resuming pipeline operations under the new conditions allows Iraq to reduce its dependence on vulnerable sea routes and provides additional guarantees for international buyers. For Turkey, the agreement strengthens Ceyhan's position as a key hub for Caspian and Middle Eastern oil, enhancing Ankara's influence in the region's energy architecture.
As CCTV+ reports, the signing of this one-year contract opens a window for broader strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Ankara, and further talks on a framework agreement may cover not only oil but also water resources, which are critically important for the entire Middle East.
