Exclusive: Syria, Iraq and US plan to unveil Mediterranean pipeline deal to bypass Strait of Hormuz

What Happened

Iraq, Syria, and the United States are reportedly preparing to announce an agreement to revive a 500-mile oil pipeline connecting Kirkuk, Iraq, to the Syrian coastal town of Baniyas. According to regional officials, the project aims to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which currently handles 95 percent of Iraqi oil exports. The pipeline, which has been defunct since the 1980s and sustained damage during the 2003 US invasion, would require a wholesale replacement estimated to take two to three years. The US has reportedly enlisted a consortium of firms, including Capital TI and Chevron, to lead the reconstruction, supported by recent diplomatic shifts including the removal of Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The project represents a significant shift in regional energy security, intended to mitigate Iraq's vulnerability to Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. By establishing an alternative export route through the Mediterranean, the initiative seeks to stabilize the Iraqi economy—which relies on oil for 90 percent of its budget—while formalizing a new geopolitical alignment between the US, Iraq, and the post-Assad Syrian administration.

Watch For

Monitor the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and President Donald Trump at the White House, where the formal unveiling of the agreement is expected. Additionally, track the involvement of US firms Capital TI and Chevron in the reconstruction process and any potential reactions from Iranian-aligned political factions within the Iraqi government.