The $25 Billion Cost of Iraq’s Oil Deadlock

In a twist that is perhaps surprising even for the labyrinth of Iraqi politics, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has found itself blindsided by a delayed parliamentary vote on oil production costs. Despite earlier agreements, the Iraqi parliament opted to hit the brakes on approving the $16-per-barrel production and transport fee proposed in November, throwing yet another wrench into a pipeline that’s been as dormant as the region’s export ambitions for almost two years. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, fresh from rubbing…