Iraq is exploring importing natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkiye as it looks for new sources to fuel its power plants, the Oil Ministry said on Thursday.
Deputy Oil Minister for Gas Affairs Izzat Saber Ismail, during talks with Zaur Gahramanov, vice president of Azerbaijan’s state oil company (SOCAR,) stressed the need to study the technical and logistical options for delivering Azerbaijani gas to Iraq across Turkish territory, according to a ministry statement.
The ministry is working to diversify its gas supplies and strengthen energy security to meet power generation needs, Ismail said, while also partnering with established international companies to raise domestic output and make better use of associated gas. The two sides agreed to step up technical meetings to study potential projects.
Iraq depends heavily on Iranian gas for electricity and accelerated its search for alternatives after Washington ended sanctions exemptions covering Iranian energy imports in March 2025. A plan to import Turkmen gas through Iran was suspended under US pressure in September 2025, although Baghdad later continued seeking US clearance to revive it. In May 2025, then-Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called on SOCAR to invest in Iraq’s oil sector.
