“Kurdistan is the most important partner”: an American report urges preventing “Iran’s attacks” on e

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[size=52]“Kurdistan is the most important partner”: an American report urges preventing “Iran’s attacks” on energy facilities[/size]

[size=45]The American "Real Clear Energy" website, which specializes in energy affairs, described the Kurdistan Region as the "reliable security partner" of the United States and its "largest partner in the field of energy and security," calling on the administration of US President Joe Biden to work to counter the attempts of Iran and its Iraqi proxies, to target the interests of American energy in the region, and an attempt to overthrow the Iraqi federal system, which was established under American auspices.[/size]
[size=45]At the beginning of the report, the specialized American website mentioned that American energy interests in the Middle East are still under attack, referring specifically to the June 22 attack on energy facilities in Kurdistan partially funded by the US government by Iraqi militias backed by Iran, in the third attack from Its type within one week, and after 5 other attacks previously on the Kurdistan Refinery and pipeline infrastructure in the region.[/size]
[size=45]The report considered that Iran's reliance on attacking the energy sector in Kurdistan is not limited to the Iraqi militias alone, but also to the Iraqi courts by preventing the formation of a new government in Baghdad that does not include parties backed by Iran, and thus achieves in the long run the reversal of the path of the federal system in Iraq. Iraq, and financially strangling the energy sector in Kurdistan, noting that this Iranian "strategy" has been achieved so far.[/size]
[size=45]In this context, the report indicated that an Iraqi court recently ruled that the contracts concluded between the Kurdistan Regional Government and four American and European international oil companies are illegal, a move that threatens to affect about 200,000 barrels of Kurdistan's exports amounting to 450,000 barrels per day.[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, the report pointed out that Emirati and Russian companies, including "Rosneft" and "Gazprom", were able to escape any legal challenges, and the same situation applies to international companies that Baghdad seeks to maintain its presence in southern Iraq, such as " Total and Chevron.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, Iraq recently included on the blacklist major service companies active in Kurdistan, including “Halliburton” and “Baker Hughes,” adding that “Exxon” is the latest “major” company to withdraw from Iraq, pointing out that The terms of the contracts do not protect future investments, calling them among the “worst in the world.”[/size]
[size=45]The report added that Iran's attempt to control Kurdistan is accompanied by the distress experienced by the global oil markets, while Iraq, which is the second largest producer in OPEC, is also facing huge challenges in the field of energy, including its inability to meet future production quotas and dependence on Gas imports from Iran.[/size]
[size=45]Then the report asked, "Why is Iran moving now to cut off the head of the energy sector in the Kurdistan Region, and what role can the United States play?" The US-brokered Iraqi constitution, which provides semi-autonomous Kurdistan and the possibility to develop its energy resources in the future.[/size]
[size=45]The report added that this formula contributed to attracting foreign investment to Kurdistan, including sole energy projects funded by the United States throughout Iraq, stressing that "Kurdistan is emerging as America's largest partner in the field of security and energy, which threatens Iran's regional goals."[/size]
[size=45]The report considered that among the reasons for Iran's attack on the Kurdistan Region and the federal system in Iraq, it believes that the United States is keen to shift away from the Middle East, leaving behind its difficult and costly legacy in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]He also pointed out that Iran is betting on American “amnesia” and Washington’s decisive role between 2003 and 2005 in ensuring the establishment of semi-autonomous rule in the Kurdistan Region, and the condition of the region’s right to develop its energy resources, in exchange for the region’s approval of the new constitution in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]Now, the report considers that President Biden, while on his regional tour, and when he meets the leaders of the region and Iraq, has an important opportunity, adding that "the future of Kurdistan is at stake, and that the United States has multiple diplomatic, economic and military tools at its disposal."[/size]
[size=45]He explained that the United States, instead of allowing the militias backed by Iran and financed by the Iraqi treasury, to continue to threaten American-funded energy projects in Kurdistan, must consider taking other steps.[/size]
[size=45]The report stated that the US Congress allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to Iraq, and a large part of this money goes to pay the salaries of the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Region, and that Congress must tighten scrutiny of security funding for Baghdad in the future as long as Iranian-backed militias launch attacks on American facilities, investments and individuals.[/size]
[size=45]He made it clear that Congress cannot justify the continuation of such support at a time when Iraqi ministries maintain known links and continue to fund groups designated by Washington as terrorist.[/size]
[size=45]The report also called for “weaning Iraq” from dependence on Iranian gas, and urged Washington to stop granting Iraq exemptions from sanctions to import Iranian gas and pay for it, which is likely to benefit the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which reinforces the rampant corruption further.[/size]
[size=45]He also pointed out that Iraq is still dependent on dollar transfers from the US Federal Reserve, a mechanism that is supposed to be put on the negotiating table as long as Iran threatens US energy investments in Kurdistan.[/size]
[size=45]The report concluded by saying that “Kurdistan remains our reliable security partner and the only place in Iraq where the US government funds energy projects.” Therefore, it is no longer acceptable for Washington to allow Iran to cancel the US security and energy partnership with Kurdistan, which has existed for 30 years.[/size]
[size=45]Therefore, the report said that Washington “played a crucial role in the establishment of the Kurdistan Region, and we must now protect it.”[/size]
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