US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani held a call on Tuesday, agreeing to expedite efforts to reopen the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. According to the State Department, both sides acknowledged the importance of Iraq achieving energy independence and committed to honoring contractual terms for US companies operating in Iraq to attract further investment. The pipeline has been shut since March 2023 after Iraq won an arbitration case against Turkey.
The discussions also covered broader strategic concerns, including Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, and counterterrorism operations against ISIS (Daesh). Rubio emphasized that Syria must not become a sanctuary for terrorism or a regional threat, underscoring US priorities in the region.
Al-Sudani’s office confirmed that both leaders agreed to enhance communication and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. Their conversation reaffirmed the significance of the US-Iraq partnership and the shared commitment to advancing mutual economic and security interests.
