World March 22, 2026

Tension in Hormuz shakes oil markets: Iraq declared force majeure, reached an agreement with Kurdistan.

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Tension in Hormuz shakes oil markets: Iraq declared force majeure, reached an agreement with Kurdistan.

Hormuz Crisis Shakes Oil Markets: Iraq Declared Force Majeure, Agreed with Kurdistan

Tension in Hormuz shakes oil markets - Due to rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq has declared a force majeure situation in oil fields controlled by foreign companies. According to Reuters, this decision is related to the negative impact of increasing geopolitical risks in the region on oil supply.

The force majeure declaration indicates that Iraq will be unable to fulfill its contractual obligations due to extraordinary and uncontrollable events. This situation could deal a serious blow to the country's oil export potential and cause concern in global energy markets.

Against the backdrop of this crisis, Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an agreement to resume oil exports via Turkey. According to Bloomberg, this agreement is a significant achievement after years of disagreements and will help stabilize Iraq's oil exports.

The new agreement has the potential to bring some stability to global markets by increasing Iraq's total oil export volume. For Kurdistan, this agreement is also of great importance in terms of improving the region's economic situation.

Turkey has also put forward a proposal to extend the Iraqi oil pipeline to mitigate the effects of the Hormuz crisis. According to Middle East Eye, this proposal could strengthen energy security in the region by ensuring the transportation of oil through alternative routes.

These events once again clearly demonstrate how tensions in the Middle East affect oil prices. Investors are closely monitoring issues such as Iraq's export volume and Iran's regional activities, as these factors will determine the future trajectory of global energy markets.

Analysts note that the agreement reached between Iraq and Kurdistan is a positive step, but emphasize that uncertainty in the global oil market remains high due to ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ensuring peace and stability in the region is vital for the continuity of energy supply.