The Project That Once Balanced Russian Expertise with Iraqi Sovereignty Now Exposes the Fragility of This Set-up Western sanctions have reshaped Iraq’s oil sector. In October 2025, the United States and United Kingdom targeted Lukoil and Rosneft’s overseas operations to curtail Moscow’s war financing. Lukoil promptly declared force majeure at West Qurna-2, which …
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The Rapid Growth of Ties Between the Two Countries Shows How Ossified Divisions That Once Marked the Regions Are Breaking Down Azerbaijan and Iraq are less than 400 miles distant but through much of recent history, they might have been on the other side of the world. With Azerbaijan incorporated …
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The fall of Assad marks a pivotal blow to Iran’s regional strategy, reshaping its influence in the Middle East. Radical shifts in the regional balance of power have forced Iran to reconsider its long-held foreign policy of propping up anti-U.S. and anti-Israel forces—the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a strong network of proxy …
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In his first trip abroad as president, Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iraq’s central role in Iran’s foreign policy. Masoud Pezeshkian’s inaugural trip to Iraq from September 11-13 marked a pivotal moment in the evolving relationship between the two neighbors. The new president’s visit underscores Iraq’s strategic importance to Iran and reflects Pezeshkian’s commitment …
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On July 21, 2024, Baghdad inaugurated a new power line connecting Turkey and Iraq to handle Turkish electricity imports. This 115-kilometer (71-mile) transmission line is expected to deliver 300 megawatts of energy to a power station west of Mosul with the aim of supplying northern Iraq, including the regions of Nineveh, Salahuddin, and …
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To advance its ambitious Development Road project, Iraq must navigate several obstacles, including inadequate infrastructure, corruption, security concerns, and a delicate geopolitical position. Last month, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Baghdad, Iraq announced that it would join the region-wide “Development Road” project, which will link the country with Qatar, the UAE, and …
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Beset by an unprecedented domestic energy crisis, Iran has sought to cement foreign energy deals and investment, to varied success. Though the country faces a raft of international sanctions and several major geopolitical hurdles, Iran’s oil and gas sector has seen a significant expansion in recent months—a period of growth marked by …
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Despite a persistent and alarming deficit in its natural gas production, Iran recently chose to renew gas export contracts with Iraq – a decision that can have severe consequences for its own energy needs. While Iran boasts having the second largest natural gas reserves in the world, its production capacity …
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Turkey this week came against the backdrop of the Gaza war, ongoing regional crisis and conflicts in bilateral relations. The visit on Wednesday and the issues discussed reflected the intricate dynamics between Iran and Turkey. The visit resulted in ten agreements, emphasizing collaboration in …
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In recent years, Iraq has become one of the leading destinations for Chinese investments in the Middle East and a crucial link in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). To capitalize on its geostrategic location and central position within the Chinese BRI, Iraq is seeking to develop a sprawling new 54-square-kilometer port …
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