Overview
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Thursday, 9 July 2026, that Turkey and Iraq will sign a one‑year agreement within the next few days to maintain operations of the crude oil pipeline linking the two nations. The new pact will cover the next 12 months and is intended to be signed before the existing agreement expires on 27 July 2026.
The pipeline, which transports Iraqi crude to Turkey’s Ceyhan port on the eastern Mediterranean, had been shut for approximately two and a half years after an arbitration court ordered Turkey to pay US$1.5 billion in damages for unauthorized Iraqi exports received between 2014 and 2018. Operations resumed in late 2025 following the settlement of that dispute.
During his official visit to Baghdad, Bayraktar reported a productive meeting with Iraq Oil Minister Basim Mohammed, where they discussed broader oil and gas cooperation. He also met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi, as confirmed by the prime minister’s office. Both meetings underscored the commitment to continue oil flow from Iraq to the Ceyhan terminal.
Key Dates and Figures
- Agreement signing: expected within days of 9 July 2026.
- Current agreement expiry: 27 July 2026.
- Pipeline shutdown duration: 2.5 years.
- Arbitration damages: US$1.5 billion.
- Resumption of flow: late 2025.
Stakeholder Statements
Bayraktar emphasized that the forthcoming one‑year deal will ensure uninterrupted crude deliveries to Turkey’s Ceyhan port, reinforcing energy security for both countries.