Hamrin deal signed as Iraq accelerates U.S. oil partnerships

The contract sets a production target of 140,000 bpd and extends a wave of agreements with American companies ahead of Prime Minister Zaidi's visit to Washington.

Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair (center) oversees the signing of a contract between the state-run North Oil Company and the U.S. firm HKN Energy in Baghdad on July 9, 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Energy

Iraq signs Halliburton field deal, advances Chevron export pipeline studies

A five-year contract with Halliburton targets 250,000 bpd from two Basra fields, while a Chevron-linked consortium wins approval to study Turkey and Syria export pipeline routes.

Politics

Maarij arrested in widening corruption crackdown

A second deputy oil minister has been ensnared in an expanding operation that has also taken down several MPs, with potential to reshape Iraq's political power balance.

Security

As Iraq tries to rein in paramilitary groups, oil sector threats remain

Several armed groups say they will put their weapons under state control, but the most aggressive Iran-backed fighters remain outside the process.

Interviews

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream

Iraq's top upstream oil official confirms that production, curtailed by war, is ready to surge back online — but only once ships can reliably resume Basra Gulf export loadings.