Peregraf
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed America’s strong support for Kurdish self-rule on Wednesday, describing it as the cornerstone of U.S. strategy in Iraq. Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio said, “The linchpin of our approach to Iraq is that autonomy that the Kurdish population has in that part of the country, and part of that is allowing them the economic lifeline that allows them to prosper and succeed.” His remarks come amid rising tensions between Erbil and Baghdad over newly signed energy deals with U.S. companies.
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department publicly backed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) newly signed $100 billion energy agreements with American firms, despite strong objections from the federal government in Baghdad, which has labeled the contracts unconstitutional.
“We are pleased to see the commercial relationship between the United States and Iraqi Kurdistan Region expand with the signing of agreements with U.S. companies,” the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs stated on X. “These types of partnerships will strengthen gas production in Iraq and benefit both of our peoples.”
The KRG signed the two major oil and gas contracts on May 19 in Washington with U.S. energy firms HKN/Onex Group—operating as Miran Energy—and Western Zagros. The agreements focus on the development of the Miran and Topkhana-Kurdemir fields in Sulaimani province, which reportedly hold around 13 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 9 million barrels of oil.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who presided over the signing ceremony, called the agreements “transformative,” declaring, “This billion-dollar agreement proves the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to peace and economic growth.” He pledged the projects would provide 24-hour electricity across the region and generate surplus power for other parts of Iraq.
However, the deals have sparked an immediate backlash from Iraq’s Oil Ministry, which denounced them as “unilateral procedures” that violate rulings by the Federal Supreme Court—specifically decisions 59/Federal 2012 and 110/Federal 2019 that restrict regional oil deals made without federal approval.
“These procedures violate the decisions issued by the Federal Court of Cassation,” the ministry stated. “Oil resources belong to all Iraqis, and any investment in these resources must be undertaken through the federal government.” It concluded by declaring the contracts “null and void” under the Iraqi Constitution and applicable court rulings.
The KRG rejected Baghdad’s claims. The Ministry of Natural Resources stated that the agreements are not new and have previously been recognized by Iraqi courts as legal. Acting Minister Kamal Mohammed confirmed that Erbil did not consult Baghdad, adding, “We have not consulted the Iraqi Oil Ministry and we are not waiting for Baghdad to agree or not.”
The dispute underscores the deepening rift between the KRG and the federal government over control of natural resources, reigniting long-standing disputes over constitutional authority and the limits of Kurdish autonomy. While Washington celebrates the strengthening of U.S.-Kurdish economic ties, the deals risk further complicating Iraq’s fragile political balance as Baghdad moves to reassert federal control over oil and gas policy.