Hormuz Crisis Revives Basra-Ceyhan Pipeline Push

24 Apr 2026 Issue: 69 / 17 By: Yesar Al-Maleki

Turkey is pressing Iraq to expand the Iraq-Turkey pipeline (ITP) to enable exports from Basra to Ceyhan, allowing Baghdad to diversify its export routes and reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. But Baghdad cannot realistically commit volumes of up to 1.5mn b/d, and both parties have yet to agree on renewing the ITP treaty, which expires in July.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has reinforced the importance of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline, now Iraq’s only functioning export route following the suspension of Gulf exports. With the waterway’s long-term viability undermined by the threat from Iran, Ankara has renewed calls to expand the ITP and link it directly to Iraq’s major oil fields in Basra, though political, commercial and logistical hurdles remain.

Diversifying supply routes from the Middle East to avoid disruptions in the future is also an energy security concern for consumers. The IEA’s Executive Director, Fatih Birol, spoke of the project’s importance to security of supply. In comments to Turkish newspaper Hürriyet on 19 April, he said: “I believe a Basra-Ceyhan pipeline could be extremely attractive, a project of paramount importance for Iraq and Turkey and regional supply security – especially for Europe.” (CONTINUED - 2117 WORDS)