Iraqi Prime Minister: US companies are a priority, and a plan to increase oil production to 7 million barrels per day
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi affirmed that his country is preparing for a new phase focused on economic partnership with the United States, indicating that US companies will be given top priority to work in Iraq, with ambitious plans to raise oil production to seven million barrels per day within the next three years.
In an exclusive interview, al-Zaidi explained that the relationship with Washington will shift from a military to an economic partnership after the complete withdrawal of US forces, considering the United States as Iraq's preferred partner. These statements come ahead of his first visit to Washington, where he will discuss with the US side the establishment of a joint energy and development fund, initially funded by the equivalent of 500,000 barrels per day, with the possibility of expanding it to two million barrels per day, to finance investments in electricity and infrastructure, and contribute to refilling the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The Prime Minister indicated that he has directed the ministries of oil, electricity, and communications to prioritize reputable US companies, with a special focus on the energy, communications, technology, and development sectors. He also revealed that the Ministerial Council for the Economy has approved major oil projects with international companies such as Chevron, Halliburton, and HKN, in addition to talks with Starlink in the communications sector.
Regarding oil production, al-Zaidi confirmed that Iraq is working to secure a fair production share that reflects its capabilities, aiming to raise production to seven million barrels per day within three years, which has been communicated to US companies. While denying any intention to leave OPEC, he did not rule out suspending Iraq's membership if prevented from increasing its production capacity, stressing that the pursuit of partnership with the United States is driven solely by Iraqi national interest.
On another front, the Prime Minister linked the disarmament of armed factions to the scheduled date for the withdrawal of US forces in September, affirming that the country will enter a new phase after that date, and there will be no justification for the existence of any resistance or armed factions. He also announced plans to hold an international sovereignty conference to affirm that the Iraqi decision is solely in the hands of Iraqis, calling for an Iraq free of foreign forces and armed groups outside state authority.
In a related context, the government's efforts to combat corruption, which the Prime Minister described as a "structural phenomenon," continue. The specialized criminal court for combating corruption announced the arrest of officials and the recovery of funds exceeding 98 billion dinars and 11 million dollars in corruption cases, particularly in oil sector contracts, which are a recurring target of investigations.
