Key facts
- The US is supporting the reconstruction of a crude oil pipeline between Iraq and Syria.
- The pipeline, originally from Kirkuk to Baniyas, has been defunct since the 1980s and requires extensive repairs.
- The project aims to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint threatened by Iran.
- An agreement is expected to be announced next week during a meeting between Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump.
- US firms have been selected for the reconstruction, estimated to take two to three years.
The United States is actively supporting the rehabilitation of a critical oil pipeline connecting Iraq and Syria, a move aimed at circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway increasingly under threat from Iran. A State Department official confirmed US backing for the project, anticipating American companies' involvement in its advancement.
The pipeline, originally constructed in 1952 with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, has been inoperable since the 1980s and suffered significant damage after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Sources indicate that the project requires extensive repairs, potentially necessitating a complete replacement over two to three years. A consortium of US firms has reportedly been selected for this reconstruction.
An agreement to revive the pipeline is slated for announcement next week during a meeting at the White House between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump. This initiative gains particular urgency as Iran has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz in response to the ongoing US-Israeli war, significantly impacting Iraq's oil exports, which constitute 90% of its state budget and 95% of its oil transportation relies on the Strait.
Iraq has already begun exporting small volumes of crude via tanker truck through Syria, highlighting its vulnerability to Iranian actions. The US has recently escalated strikes against Iran in an effort to reduce Tehran's ability to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become virtually blocked.