Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi discussed with US Presidential Envoy Thomas Barak the project to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline, in addition to developments in the region.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday, June 16, that the two sides discussed moving forward with the memorandum of understanding signed with TI Capital to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas line, as a vital route for oil exports and promoting regional economic integration.

On April 2, Minister of Energy Mohammed al-Bashir discussed by phone with Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector and rehabilitate oil pipelines, especially the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, in order to achieve common interests and serve the two brotherly peoples.

In a related context related to the energy sector, the two sides praised the launch of formal negotiations with the American company "Chevron" to develop the "West Qurna-2" and "Nasiriyah" oil fields for mutual benefit, in addition to enabling other American companies operating in the sector such as "HKN", "Western Zagros", and "Hunt" to resume their operations while providing them with full security guarantees.

The two parties also reiterated their joint commitment to expand cooperation to support Iraq's electricity needs, including Excelerate Energy's project to develop a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the Khor al-Zubair area.

Al-Zaidi and Barak affirmed the commitment of the governments of Iraq and the United States to building a strong and mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to achieving the aspirations of Iraqis towards a future based on sovereignty, security, and prosperity, and provides tangible benefits to the Iraqi and American peoples.

The two sides also discussed the Iraqi government's vision to build a brighter and terrorism-free future, through the implementation of plans aimed at the complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority of the state.

They stressed the importance of limiting weapons to the hands of official institutions and imposing full sovereignty over Iraqi territory, in order to ensure the country's distance from regional conflicts and prevent the use of its territory by any party to threaten peace and security in the region.

On the diplomatic front, Special Envoy Tom Barrack conveyed US President Donald Trump's aspiration to receive Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House in mid-July to discuss the future of the important bilateral relationship and establish a strong US-Iraqi partnership capable of realizing Iraqis' aspirations for prosperity and security.

Last Sunday in Istanbul, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shaibani discussed with Barak bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them, in addition to the latest developments on the international scene and efforts aimed at achieving stability in the region.

On May 31, US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Barak as a special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, in addition to his duties as ambassador to Turkey.

US company Philips prepares to explore for gas in Syria

US oil and gas company ConocoPhillips is preparing to resume its activity in Syria through a new contract to develop the gas sector, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the company is set to sign an agreement with the new Syrian government to revive gas production in a number of fields.

The newspaper reported that ConocoPhillips, along with Novatira Energy, will develop existing fields and explore new reserves, under a cooperation agreement with the state-owned Syrian Petroleum Company. The agreement is expected to be concluded this week, based on a memorandum of understanding signed last November.

The move comes in the context of international companies expanding their studies of opportunities within the Syrian energy sector. In May, France's TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips signed an agreement with the Syrian Petroleum Company to launch a technical review of the 3rd offshore area near Latakia, Reuters reported.

The moves are part of a government's effort to attract foreign investment to the energy sector, which has been hit hard during years of war and sanctions, as major companies have increased interest in Syrian projects since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, opening the door to a new phase of economic openness and restructuring of the energy sector.