Iraqi PM: Iraq seeks alternative oil export routes, rejects regional aggression

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi has warned against Iraq’s continued reliance on a single route for oil exports, stressing that the country is working to open alternative pathways, including exports through Syria, in light of the significant impact of war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis on Iraq’s economy.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Al-Zaidi said Iraq’s oil sales have been heavily affected by the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the country "cannot remain hostage to a single export route."

The Iraqi prime minister announced that Iraq will export one million barrels of oil through Syria to Europe and the United States as part of efforts to secure alternative export routes.

View the post on X

Al-Zaidi also affirmed that Iraq "is far from supporting any aggressive policy in the region," noting that the crisis between Iran and the United States "has affected the entire world."

On domestic affairs, Al-Zaidi reiterated that the Kurdistan region "is an integral part of Iraq" and is entitled to its constitutional and legal rights.