Syrian President Discusses US-Backed Oil Pipeline Revival with Iraq and Lebanon

Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa has confirmed that his country is engaged in discussions with the United States concerning investment and energy agreements involving other Middle Eastern nations. The primary objective is to revitalize an oil pipeline that would transport crude oil from Iraq to the Mediterranean ports of Syria and Lebanon, presenting a strategic alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Al Sharaa stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that "There are projects we are talking about, and memorandums of understanding to connect Iraqi oil fields and export it through the Syrian port of Baniyas." This initiative focuses on rehabilitating a network of pipelines linking Iraq's oil fields to Baniyas, a key maritime and oil terminal located near Syria's largest refinery.

Furthermore, Syria and the U.S. are reportedly exploring connections to Tripoli in Lebanon. Al Sharaa indicated that Lebanon could benefit from this investment, with plans to "reconstruct crude oil refining and petroleum product manufacturing centers" in the neighboring country. He also mentioned the potential construction of new pipeline networks within Syria to connect oil fields to terminals.

While specific details remain undisclosed, Al Sharaa confirmed the project involves rehabilitating the old Kirkuk-Baniyas crude oil route, originally established in the early 1950s. The infrastructure for this route was damaged during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Another objective is to revive the Kirkuk-Tripoli pipeline, a topic recently discussed between Lebanese and Iraqi prime ministers.

The overarching goal of these projects is to facilitate the export of Iraqi oil, a country possessing significant global reserves, through the Mediterranean. This aims to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz, which has been subject to economic blockades and ongoing military tensions, particularly amid the current Middle East conflict. The Baniyas-Kirkuk project gains significance against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf and Iranian restrictions on Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global crude exports.

“

There are projects we are talking about, and memorandums of understanding to connect Iraqi oil fields and export it through the Syrian port of Baniyas.