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

Exclusive: Syria, Iraq and US plan to unveil Mediterranean pipeline deal to bypass Strait of Hormuz
NEWS SUMMARY
Iraq, Syria, and the US plan to revive a historic 500-mile pipeline from Kirkuk to Syria's Mediterranean coast, with an agreement expected to be unveiled next week during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to the White House. This initiative aims to bypass Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and is supported by US envoy Tom Barrack, with reconstruction potentially requiring a two- to three-year timeline.
Full BriefGenerated 45d ago
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
  • ·
    Ali al-Zaidi(Prime Minister of Iraq)Expected to meet with US leadership to finalize the pipeline agreement.
  • ·
    Ahmed al-Sharaa(President of Syria)Leading the Syrian government in negotiations to restore energy infrastructure and deepen ties with the US and regional partners.
  • ·
    Donald Trump(President of the United States)Advancing the pipeline project as a strategic measure to reduce Iranian influence over energy transit routes.
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.
Generated 45d ago · Based on full article
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This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from Middle East Eye. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.
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