US supporting efforts to revive Iraq-Syria crude oil pipeline, US official says

The United States is backing initiatives to restore a crude oil pipeline connecting Iraq and Syria, a move aimed at diminishing Iran's influence over oil supplies transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A State Department official confirmed US support for reviving the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, which has been largely non-operational since sustaining damage during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Expected to involve American companies, the revitalized pipeline would transport oil from Iraqi fields near Kirkuk to Syria's Mediterranean coast. This project is one of several regional efforts designed to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and gas flowed before the recent conflict between the US and Iran began. The US has re-imposed a blockade on the strait following attacks on ships, which Washington attributes to Iran.

Reports suggest that companies like Chevron might participate in the pipeline's reconstruction, although Chevron declined to comment on third-party statements or commercial matters. The initiative aligns with broader strategies to diversify energy transit routes in the Middle East.

Separately, Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) route, which could potentially pass through Syria, bypassing Israel. Announced in September 2023, the IMEC project aims to link India with Europe via the Persian Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean, representing a significant infrastructure and trade development.

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