Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Iranian, U.S. officials meet for security talks on Iraq
International
(RFE/RL) - U.S. and Iranian officials met in Baghdad on July 24 for a second round of talks aimed at supporting the Iraqi government, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq reported. The meeting, hosted by the Iraqi government, was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart, Hasan Kazemi-Qomi.
Iraqi state-television channel Al-Iraqiyah cited Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's address to the two sides at the start of the talks. Al-Maliki reportedly told both sides Iraq is keen on good relations with all parties. He added that Iraq does not want to interfere in the affairs of others, just as it does not want others to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi source attending the meeting told AP that an argument broke out early on between Crocker and Qomi after the U.S. ambassador claimed Iran is training and supplying Shi'ite militiamen to target coalition forces. Qomi reportedly responded by saying the United States has no proof to back up the claim. Iranian sources have said the status of five Iranian diplomats detained by U.S. forces in Iraq since January will also be high on the meeting's agenda.
Labels: Hasan Kazemi Qomi, Iran, Iranian detainees, Ryan Crocker, Shia militias, U.S.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Iraq to increase oil exports to Iran through new pipeline
Oil
(UPI) - Iraq agreed to increase oil exports directly to Iran via a new pipeline in the south, though export capacity in the north remains stuck. Iraq oil minister Hussein Al Shahristani and Hasan Kazemi Qomi, the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, struck the deal, according to a top ministry spokesman. "The two agreed to lay the oil pipeline from southern Iraq to Abadan region in Iran in order to export more than 200,000 barrels per day [bpd] of Iraqi crude oil to Iran according to crude oil international prices," Issam Jihad told reporters.
The Voices of Iraq news agency reports that the oil will be used in Iran's refineries. While Iraq has 115 billion barrels of proven reserves, the third-most in the world, production is struggling at 2 million bpd and exports at 1.6 million bpd. This is caused not by a lack of export capacity, at least in the south, but by old, misused, and often attacked infrastructure. Tens of billions of dollars are needed to fix the system, which has suffered under the current occupation and its fighting, and Saddam Hussein worked the sector too hard without proper upkeep. Prewar production was around 2.6 million bpd and experts say that the sector could handle much more.
All of Iraq's exports come from the south, mostly from the Persian Gulf port of Basra. A pipeline in the north, from Kirkuk to Ceyhan, Turkey, has been attacked so often it is no longer considered viable. The investment would come from Iraqi coffers or foreign firms. Oil revenue funds more than 93 percent of the federal budget, though much of it goes to security. International oil companies are waiting for the parliament to pass an oil law before it knows what access it has to the oil.
Labels: Abadan region, Hasan Kazemi Qomi, Hussain al-Shahristani, Iran, oil exports
Friday, May 18, 2007
Iraq, Iran agree to laying oil pipeline
Oil, Iran
(Voices of Iraq) - The Iraqi government has agreed with Iran to start laying oil pipeline between the two countries to export Iraqi oil to the neighboring country, the official spokesman for Iraq's Oil Ministry said on Thursday. "The agreement came during the meeting between Iraqi oil minister Hussein al-Shahrestani and Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hasan Kazemi Qomi at the minister’s office," Essam Jihad told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The two agreed to lay the oil pipeline from southern Iraq to Abadan region in Iran in order to export more than 200,000 barrels per day of Iraqi crude oil to Iran according to crude oil international prices," he also said. He noted that the new pipeline will provide a new way to boost the country's export capacity to Iranian refineries in Abadan. "They also agreed to arrange a mutual visit for technicians from both countries to prepare the agreement's contracts," the official added.
"The two agreed to lay the oil pipeline from southern Iraq to Abadan region in Iran in order to export more than 200,000 barrels per day of Iraqi crude oil to Iran according to crude oil international prices," he also said. He noted that the new pipeline will provide a new way to boost the country's export capacity to Iranian refineries in Abadan. "They also agreed to arrange a mutual visit for technicians from both countries to prepare the agreement's contracts," the official added.
Labels: Abadan region, Hasan Kazemi Qomi, Hussain al-Shahristani, Iran, Iraqi government, oil pipeline
