Economic Observatory Proposes Four Alternative Oil Export Routes for Iraq Outside the Strait of Hormuz

mniraq - A specialized economic observatory has outlined a strategic proposal featuring four alternative pipeline routes for Iraqi crude oil exports. The initiative aims to diversify export outlets and reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions and maritime disruptions. The report highlighted that Iraq remains economically vulnerable to navigational halts in the Gulf, reinforcing the urgent need for overland transit infrastructure to secure uninterrupted supplies to global markets. The proposed routes include the "New Levant" pipeline linking Basra and Haditha to Jordan’s Port of Aqaba on the Red Sea, and a line connecting Haditha to Syria’s Baniyas port on the Mediterranean to supply European markets. A third route extends from Basra through Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian Sea for Asian buyers, while the fourth focuses on upgrading the Haditha-Kirkuk-Ceyhan line toward Turkey. The study emphasizes positioning Haditha in Anbar province as a central distribution hub to fortify Iraq's economic resilience and safeguard fiscal revenues.