Iraq expands oil export routes

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference that Iraq is working to expand oil exports through Turkey's Turkey — Ceyhan port and develop alternative export routes via Syria's Syria — Baniyas and Jordan's Jordan — Aqaba ports. This comes in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has posed a major challenge to Iraq's oil exports and economic stability. Iraq, an OPEC founding member, was forced to halt production in most of its oil fields during the Middle East war between Iran and the United States. The government is seeking to increase its OPEC export quota and aims to raise oil production to between 8 and 10 million barrels per day within six years. Iraqi oil exports have partially recovered, reaching about 49 million barrels in July and averaging two million barrels per day in the first two weeks of August. Zaidi also addressed domestic security, stating that all political forces agree on restricting weapons to state control and ruled out military confrontation.