Thomas J. Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, urged Iraq to keep ties with Iran and develop oil pipelines to broaden export options.
At Chatham House's Iraq Initiative in London on Nov. 11, Barrack framed Iraq as a potential bridge between Washington and Tehran. “You don't have to be adversarial to Iran,” he said. His remarks linked Iraq's diplomatic role with a push to attract capital for energy infrastructure.
Barrack also called for Iraq to pursue oil production of 10 million barrels per day and seek foreign investment for pipelines. No deadline was reported for his proposed output goal. The National reported that firms in the U.S., France, Italy and the Middle East were open to helping finance pipeline development. The outlet also said Barrack cited rule-of-law problems and administrative red tape as obstacles to attracting investors.
Chatham House's conference programme placed the pipeline discussion against Iraq's dependence on the Strait of Hormuz: disruptions there in 2026 highlighted that most of the country's oil exports rely on the passage. The programme outlined routes through Türkiye, Syria and Jordan as possible ways to reach markets over land. It framed the issue amid regional conflict and interruptions to trade and energy flows that it said were straining Iraq's oil-dependent economy.
The 10 million-barrel figure is also part of Iraq's government planning, with a stated target year. The Kurdistan Regional Government said Nov. 9 that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi projected output of 7 million barrels per day by 2030 and 10 million by 2032. That 2032 date applies to the government projection; reports on Barrack's proposal did not give a corresponding timetable.
