Iraq signs 48 deals with US companies during PM's visit to Washington
The deals include rebuilding the long-defunct Iraq-Syria crude oil pipeline, which could offer a route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The visit is part of Iraq's effort to deepen economic ties with the US amid heightened regional tensions.
During the Iraqi prime minister's visit to Washington, Iraq's government signed 48 deals with US companies spanning energy and infrastructure. Among the most notable was an agreement to rebuild the long-defunct Iraq-Syria crude oil pipeline.
Reviving the pipeline could offer an alternative export route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has tightened amid the ongoing war — a development with strategic significance for regional energy security. The agreement is part of Baghdad's broader push to deepen economic ties with Washington.
The visit took place against the backdrop of the region's ongoing conflict, with Iraqi officials stressing that the country is trying to maintain balanced relations with both the US and Iran, even as economic diversification remains a priority.
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