On Tuesday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani confirmed that the KRG has decided to allow Iraqi oil to flow through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) as soon as possible.

“In parallel, our discussions with Baghdad will continue with urgency to lift the restrictions on imports and trade into the Kurdistan Region, and to secure guarantees for oil and gas companies so they can safely resume production,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on X.

“My thanks to our partners in the United States for their role and support in this process.”

On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Barzani received a telephone call from U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, in which Ambassador Barrack conveyed the greetings and regards of President Donald Trump to the Prime Minister and thanked him for his willingness to cooperate with the federal government to resume oil exports through Turkey.

According to the KRG readout, Prime Minister Barzani noted that talks with the federal government are ongoing and that he has instructed KRG representatives to facilitate oil exports in the interest of the people during this difficult time.

He added that they will do whatever is necessary in this regard for the public interest, and called on the United States to continue its monitoring role in the negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad concerning customs and the commercial blockade.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and the United States to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.

“Many thanks to Erbil and Baghdad for their work to reach [an] agreement at this critical time to resume energy exports and improve prosperity for the region. Your courage, steadfast cooperation, and commitment to the diplomatic path have been truly invaluable,” Ambassador Tom Barrack posted after the call on X.

“The United States remains fully committed to supporting these important efforts in this time of crisis.”

Iraq’s oil exports have halted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is affecting oil prices and forcing Baghdad to seek alternative options for oil exports, such as the ITP, also known as the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, which runs through the Kurdistan Region.

However, during a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Barzani noted that exports through the Kurdistan Region to the port of Ceyhan are limited and cannot compensate for the loss of Iraq’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

Last Sunday, the KRG said that Baghdad is not prepared to stop attacks on Kurdish oil fields, after Iraq’s Federal Ministry of Oil issued a statement claiming that the Kurdistan Region is not ready to export oil through the pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port.

“Many of the perpetrators behind these attacks receive salaries and support from Baghdad, while the salaries of the people of the Kurdistan Region are consistently delayed and cut,” the KRG previously said.

On Monday, President Masoud Barzani called on the Iraqi federal government and the KRG to solve their issues through dialogue.