Key facts
- The US supports rebuilding the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline between Iraq and Syria.
- The pipeline aims to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil chokepoint.
- US companies, including Chevron, are expected to be involved in the reconstruction.
- The project is seen as crucial for Iraq's oil exports and reducing Iranian leverage.
- An agreement on the pipeline revival is anticipated next week during a meeting between Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump.
The United States is backing efforts by Iraq and Syria to rebuild a damaged oil pipeline that would transport crude from Kirkuk to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. A State Department official confirmed US support for the initiative, which aims to diminish Iran’s potential to disrupt global oil traffic and reduce Iraq's dependence on the Strait, which accounts for 95% of its oil exports and 90% of its state budget.
The Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, originally completed in 1952 with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, has been defunct since the 1980s and suffered damage in 2003. Reconstruction is estimated to take two to three years, with US companies, including Chevron, expected to play a role. Talks have also considered alternative land-based oil corridors.
An agreement on the pipeline revival is anticipated next week during a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump at the White House. This move comes amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf and Iran's asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz.