“And now this righteous Shi’ite brother is going to let us build a pipeline to get Iraqi oil — but don’t worry, we’ll still harangue the Infidels for waging a ‘war for oil’!”
Brave new democratic Iraqi government extends preferential treatment to Iranian firms. A “We won!” Update. By Mohamed Hameed for Azzaman:
Iraq has accepted an Iranian offer to build a pipeline connecting its terminals and refineries to the prolific Iraqi oil fields in Basra.
Assem Jihad, Oil Ministry”s Information Officer said, the agreement was reached during a meeting between Oil Minister Hussain Shahristani and the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad.
Initially, the pipeline will carry 200,000 barrels of Iraqi crude to Iran.
The countries will soon form a joint committee on how to implement the project, Jihad said.
However, Jihad declined comment on financing and duration of execution.
But said Shahristani has invited Iranian firms to invest in Iraq and present their offers to build new refineries in the country.
The government has said it would extend Iranian firms preferential treatment because many of them are still operating in southern Iraq despite the flight of other foreign companies.