Iraq and Syria sign deal to rehabilitate Mediterranean pipeline, bypass Strait of Hormuz

Iraq and Syria sign deal to rehabilitate Mediterranean pipeline, bypass Strait of Hormuz Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/17/2026 - 21:00 MEE was the first to reveal that Syria and Iraq planned to unveil pipeline deal in Washington Oil facilities at the Baniyas port refinery on the Mediterranean Sea, Syria, on 15 April 2026 (Bakr Alkasem/AFP) Off Iraq and Syria have signed a cooperation agreement to reconstruct a pipeline running from Iraqi oil fields to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, as part of a US-brokered deal to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East Eye was the first to reveal that the US was brokering efforts to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline, with US ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy Tom Barrack taking the lead. After MEE's exclusive, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times reported on the expected deal.