Tehran is taking a closer interest in the KRG’s gas ambitions
Iran casts shadow over Kurdish gas aspirations
The Kurdistan region is facing political and military challenges as efforts to appoint a government in Baghdad descend further into chaos
Years of wrangling over the status of Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil and gas sector are coming to a head. And as Baghdad descends into further political upheaval, Tehran appears likely to be the key beneficiary. Independent Kurdish oil exports have been a prominent issue since they began in 2007. But the declaration in February by Iraq’s federal court that these exports are unconstitutional has added a high-profile legal edge to proceedings—with Kurdish expansionism up against vested interests in maintaining the status quo. With production of c.450,000bl/d and exports of c.350,000bl/d, the Kurdistan region accounts for a little over 10pc of Iraq’s oil flows. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG’s
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
