PM Sudani holds phone talks with Kurdish leaders after oil export deal

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Saturday held phone conversations with Kurdish leaders to thank them for their role in reaching the agreement that restarted crude oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through the Iraq–Turkey pipeline.

Sudani spoke separately with Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Bafel Talabani, his office said in a statement.

During the calls, Sudani expressed “his appreciation for the positions of the Kurdish leaders and forces who contributed to reaching the recent agreement to resume crude oil exports from the Region, with revenues transferred to the federal treasury, aligning with the interests of the Iraqi people everywhere.”

He emphasized “the joint efforts between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, which culminated in an agreement based on the requirements of the Constitution and the Budget Law.”

Oil exports from Iraq’s Kurdistan Region restarted on Sept. 27, 2025, through the Iraq–Turkey pipeline after a 30-month halt. A September 25 deal put 180,000 to 190,000 barrels per day under federal control for export, with leaders in Baghdad and Erbil calling the agreement a “historic” and “great achievement” for all Iraqis.

Full statement from al-Sudani’s office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani today, Saturday, held phone conversations with the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Mr. Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Masrour Barzani, and the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Mr. Bafel Talabani.

During the calls, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the positions of the Kurdish leaders and forces who contributed to reaching the recent agreement to resume crude oil exports from the Region, with revenues transferred to the federal treasury, aligning with the interests of the Iraqi people everywhere. He emphasized the joint efforts between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, which culminated in an agreement based on the requirements of the Constitution and the Budget Law.

The calls also stressed the importance of moving forward with all measures that strengthen national development, advance the comprehensive national interest, and embody shared goals of achieving inclusive economic progress, safeguarding wealth, and ensuring its fair distribution to all Iraqis across the country.

The discussions further highlighted the need to support investments in Iraq, as they represent the main driver for creating comprehensive development and bringing about a qualitative transformation in the Iraqi economy.