The agreement was signed in Baghdad during a meeting by Iraq’s Oil Minister, Jabar al-Luaibi, and his visiting Iranian counterpart Bijan Zanganeh.

The pipeline would help Iraq diversify its export routes and reduce its reliance on transit through the Kurdish Region Government's territory.

In a statement, Jabar al-Luaibi said that he has also agreed to visit his Iranian counterpart to co-operate on the policies of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).