Key facts
- Iraq, Syria, and the US plan to revive a 500-mile pipeline from Kirkuk to Syria's Baniyas port.
- The deal is expected to be unveiled next week when Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets US President Donald Trump.
- The pipeline aims to reduce Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.
- The pipeline requires extensive repairs and may need to be replaced wholesale, with a two- to three-year timeline.
- US firms, including Chevron, are involved in exploring pipeline projects.
- Iraq relies on the Strait of Hormuz for 95% of its oil exports.
Iraq, Syria, and the United States are planning to revive a historic 500-mile pipeline that runs from the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk to Syria's Mediterranean port of Baniyas. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
The agreement is expected to be formally announced next week when Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visits the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump. Tom Barrack, Trump's ambassador to Turkey and envoy to Syria and Iraq, has been instrumental in developing the details of this deal, fostering a working relationship with Zaidi.
The pipeline, originally completed in 1952 with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, was shut down by Baghdad in the 1980s due to Syria's alignment with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. It suffered significant damage following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and is currently defunct.
Extensive repairs, potentially including wholesale replacement, are needed, with estimates suggesting a two- to three-year timeline. A consortium of US firms has reportedly been enlisted for the reconstruction. The urgency for reviving the pipeline has increased as Iran has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional conflicts.
Syria's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, is also expected to attend the signing ceremony in the US. The Trump administration's recent decision to remove Syria from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism could facilitate US firms' involvement in the project. Earlier this month, Iraq's government approved a preliminary deal for US companies Capital TI and Chevron, alongside a Qatari firm, to explore pipeline projects from Kirkuk and Haditha to Baniyas.
Iraq is particularly vulnerable to disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, as it exports 95 percent of its oil through this waterway. Recent data indicates a significant reduction in Iraq's seaborn oil exports, impacting its state budget, which relies heavily on oil sales.