A call for strict governmental and legal action to control the oil smuggling issue across the region.
The economic expert Hashim al-Haboubi called on the federal government on Tuesday to take firm and realistic measures against the Kurdistan Regional Government to prevent ongoing oil smuggling operations, coinciding with the recent international breakthrough of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to compensate for Iraq’s losses in recent months.
Al-Haboubi told the Information Agency that “the recent agreement between Tehran and Washington, which allowed for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of oil exports, necessitates decisive government action to control the internal oil sector.”
He added that “the sharp decline in oil exports over the past period due to tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a severe negative impact on the Iraqi state treasury’s revenues,” noting that “previous governments failed to prevent the continued smuggling of oil through the region, which caused significant damage and a large waste of public funds.”
Al-Haboubi pointed out that “Baghdad is now obligated to impose its legal and regulatory authority on the region’s border crossings and oil fields to prevent any illegal sales that harm the national economy.”
Almaalomah.me