Iraq and Syria agree to revive oil pipeline, deepen cooperation

DAMASCUS — Iraq and Syria agreed Monday to rehabilitate the oil pipelines linking the two countries and to set up a coordination committee chaired by their foreign ministers.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani, with Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir present, before meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa later in the day.

In a joint statement, the two sides said they would form a committee covering energy, agriculture, water, transport and border crossings, overseen by a higher body chaired by the two foreign ministers to track implementation. The centerpiece was an agreement to revive the cross-border oil pipeline network, alongside talks on moving energy supplies between and through the two countries. The ministers also discussed water and agriculture, framed around food security and closer economic ties, and agreed to step up security coordination.

Hussein then met Sharaa at the People’s Palace, where the two discussed bilateral relations and regional developments and the scope for closer coordination, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said.

The visit came at Shaibani’s invitation, following a meeting between the two ministers on the sidelines of the Arab League Council in Amman on June 22. The ministry had said beforehand that the talks would center on political, security, economic and trade cooperation and on aligning positions on regional issues.