Kriza u Hormuškom moreuzu potaknula je Irak i Jordan da preispitaju plan naftovoda

Iraq and Jordan have reignited discussions about an ambitious oil pipeline project connecting Basra to Aqaba, Jordan’s sole seaport, amid growing regional concerns over the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative comes as the United States urges Middle Eastern nations to explore alternative routes for oil and trade to reduce dependence on the narrow waterway, which has become a flashpoint in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. The talks were held on Wednesday between Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, and Iraq’s prime minister, Ali Al Zaidi, with U.S. involvement represented by Tom Barrack, a close associate of former U.S. president Donald Trump and a special envoy to Iraq and Syria. The meeting included representatives from both governments and the U.S. embassy in Turkey. The proposed pipeline, known as the Basra-Aqaba project, was initially conceived in 2013 with an estimated cost of $18 billion. It was intended to pass through Jordan’s Zarqa refinery and transport approximately 3.25 million barrels of oil daily. However, the project faced multiple setbacks, including delays caused by the Islamic State group’s occupation of parts of western Iraq in 2014 and further postponements due to the global pandemic in 2020. Recent reports suggest that the renewed effort involves two segments: one spanning 700 kilometers from the Rumaila oilfield near Basra to the western city of Haditha, capable of carrying 2.25 million barrels per day, and another segment extending from Haditha to Aqaba, transporting 1 million barrels daily. The current push for the pipeline follows recent escalations in the region, particularly after a drone strike hit an oil tanker near Basra earlier this week. Despite the incident, officials confirmed that oil loading operations continued in the area. Additionally, Dana Gas, a Jordan-based energy firm, announced the shutdown of its production facilities at Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field due to heightened security concerns and rising tensions. These developments underscore the fragile security environment in the region, which has prompted calls for diversifying export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz. The geopolitical context surrounding the pipeline project is complex. The conflict between Iran and Israel has led to increased military activity in the region, prompting efforts to secure alternative transit corridors for oil and other goods. Several proposals have emerged, including rerouting shipments via land to ports in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. This shift has gained urgency following Iran’s decision to restrict access to the strait during previous conflicts, as well as the recent unraveling of agreements aimed at reopening the channel. Brent crude prices have risen to around $84 per barrel, reflecting market anxieties over supply disruptions. Tom Barrack, who has long advocated for reducing global reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, has engaged in discussions with officials from Syria and Iraq, as well as with Chevron, regarding the potential restoration of a pipeline linking Iraq’s Kirkuk fields to Syria’s port of Baniyas. His involvement highlights the broader U.S. interest in securing alternative energy pathways in the region. Meanwhile, concerns persist over the Iraqi government’s ties with Iran, which has supported Shiite militia groups within Iraq. These militias are viewed as aligned with Iran’s clerical leadership, complicating Iraq’s relationships with neighboring Sunni Arab states. The renewed focus on the Basra-Aqaba pipeline aligns with previous diplomatic efforts to expand regional connectivity. In 2020, officials from Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq convened in Cairo to discuss extending the pipeline network to include all three countries. At the time, relations among these nations were improving under the leadership of former Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who had initiated a rapprochement with Sunni Arab states. The current discussions reflect a continuation of these efforts, albeit against a backdrop of renewed regional instability and shifting alliances.