Peregraf
Contrary to statements by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Natural Resources, who denied any illegal oil sales in the region, Hoshyar Zebari, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) Political Bureau, has admitted to oil smuggling but emphasized that it is "limited."
During an interview with Sky News Arabia, Zebari responded to a question about oil smuggling in the Kurdistan Region, stating, "We won’t claim there is no smuggling, but it is limited."
Zebari’s remarks come after KRG Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Muhammad stated on the evening of June 4, 2025, in an interview with Kurdistan24, A KDP media outlet owned by Masrour Barzani, "We have not exported any oil by tanker abroad nor sold any illegally."
The minister added, "Oil is transported daily within the region to refineries. When people see these tankers, they assume the oil is being sent outside."
On June 5, 2025, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announced that it was investigating reports suggesting "the continued smuggling of oil from the Kurdistan Region outside Iraq." The ministry stated, "The responsibility for these illegal oil sales lies with the KRG, and we reserve the right to take all legal measures in this regard."
In response, the KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources accused Baghdad of "using oil smuggling allegations to cover up its own actions" and claimed that "you [Iraq] are selling other people’s oil under Iraq’s name."