Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in a detailed phone call, focusing on oil exports, federal budget shares, and development projects. Both leaders stressed that resuming Kurdish oil exports represents a major achievement for all Iraqis.
Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the importance of regular public sector salary payments in the Kurdistan Region. He said that securing timely disbursements for 2025 and beyond is crucial to easing public concerns. The Kurdish leader also expressed hope that the agreement could create momentum toward passing a federal oil and gas law, which has been pending for years.
During the call, the Iraqi premier thanked Barzani for facilitating the recent deal that ended the prolonged export suspension. Barzani, in turn, praised Sudani’s efforts to remove obstacles that had delayed the process. Both leaders agreed that the Kurdistan Region must receive its rightful share in Iraq’s federal budget for 2026.
The conversation also covered Iraq’s “Development Road” project, a strategic trade corridor designed to connect Iraq with regional and international markets. Barzani revealed that a specialized delegation from Baghdad will soon visit Erbil to address remaining issues and ensure successful implementation.
Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region had been halted for over two and a half years due to a legal dispute involving Baghdad, Erbil, and Turkey. The historic resumption through the Iraq–Türkiye pipeline now allows 190,000 barrels per day to reach Ceyhan, while 50,000 barrels will serve domestic needs.
The tripartite agreement assigns authority over all Kurdish crude to Iraq’s state oil marketing company, SOMO, which will now manage international sales. This arrangement reflects extensive negotiations among the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi Federal Ministry of Oil, and international oil companies operating in the region.