Iraq Secures 48 Strategic Partnerships with U.S. Firms During Washington Visit

The agreements encompass the reconstruction of the dormant Iraq‑Syria crude oil pipeline, which could circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.

Published On 18 Jul 202618 Jul 2026

Iraq has reached dozens of agreements and partnerships with U.S. firms, many in the oil industry, during Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi’s visit to the United States.

“A total of 48 agreements, memoranda of understanding, cooperation accords and partnership declarations were signed by public and private sector entities in Iraq and the United States,” the Iraqi prime minister’s office announced on Saturday.

Iraq also entered into an agreement with Starlink, the world‑leading satellite communications provider, to bring its services to the country.

The preliminary agreements, signed at a U.S.–Iraq business summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington on Friday, arise as Baghdad aims to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced severe shipping and export disruptions amid the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran.

Iraq and Syria signed a cooperation agreement to rebuild the long‑dormant Iraq‑Syria oil pipeline, which stretches from the oil‑rich Kirkuk region in northern Iraq to Syria’s Mediterranean port of Baniyas.

Iraq’s state news agency reported that major U.S. energy firm Chevron would execute the project under the agreement.

The U.S. Department of State welcomed Iraq and Syria’s plan to rehabilitate the pipeline, for which a “U.S.-led international consortium” would “execute the technical and financial aspects”.

“Upon rehabilitation, this groundbreaking project will initially transport two million barrels of crude oil per day,” the department’s statement said, describing the pipeline as “a critical energy corridor linking Iraqi oil production to Mediterranean export markets and beyond”.

‘Make Hormuz an afterthought’

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said Iraq’s recent pipeline agreements would lead to a program that makes the Strait of Hormuz largely irrelevant.

In addition to the Syria pipeline project, Chevron signed two additional agreements with Iraq aimed at increasing oil production, according to the company’s president of corporate business development, Jake Spiering.

In total, Iraq’s initial agreements with U.S. firms across the energy, healthcare and technology sectors exceed $60 billion, according to Reuters.

“We employ an open‑door policy,” al‑Zaidi said at the business summit. “Anyone with a project can approach us, and we will not make it difficult for them.”

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