Decades old Iraq Turkey oil pipeline agreement expires today as the two sides negotiate a one year protocol

The Iraq Turkey crude oil pipeline agreement, which governs the route carrying oil from Kirkuk to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, expires on Monday, 27 July 2026 (5 Mordad 1405). The agreement was first signed in 1973 and extended for 15 years in 2010.

Turkey's energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on 1 July 2026 that he had met senior Iraqi oil and foreign ministry officials to discuss energy cooperation, including the pipeline. According to published reports, the two countries have been working on a temporary protocol that would keep Iraqi oil exports flowing through Ceyhan for one year after the current agreement lapses, giving both sides more time to negotiate a longer term arrangement. Ankara is seeking revised terms, including higher capacity targets and broader integration of energy infrastructure.

The route matters for the regional oil market because the Kirkuk to Ceyhan pipeline is one of the few Iraqi export outlets that does not depend on the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced disruption in recent months. Iraqi oil exports had fallen to about 1.5 million barrels per day in July according to earlier reports.