1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 2: My exclusive conversation with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shira al Sudani. 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: I sat down with him in Berdad for a ranging 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 2: discussion on the nation's economy, oil production, and the region's 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: geopolitical challenges, and this first part of our interview. He 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 2: told me the time has come for US troops to 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: withdraw from Iraq as the nation moves away from the 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 2: coalition arrangement to bilateral agreements with other countries. 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 3: Bid At Hokuma Tibi barbanaj Hekumi. 10 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: My government started a government run program that was proposed 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: to Parliament and put to a vote after the Ministerial 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 1: Cabinet presented it. This was according to the constitutional measures. 13 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: Part of the ministerial program was ending the coalition's mission 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: after the justifications for its presence had ended. Today, Iraq 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four is not the same as Iraq of 16 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen. We have defeated dysh with our sacrifices in 17 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: the Iraqi people's position from all of its components and factions, 18 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: and with the support of the international community and friends. 19 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: And we do appreciate that we found that the justifications 20 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: ended and there is no longer a need for a 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: coalition of eighty six countries. We moved from a period 22 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: of wars to a period of stability. Dyesh doesn't pose 23 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: a threat to the state. It may be part of 24 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: the security challenges like drug trade and criminal offenses. It's 25 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: at that level. It's not equal to Dayish now a 26 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: group of terrified people hiding in caves in the desert, 27 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: in the mountains, and the real threat to security and stability. 28 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Based on this vision and evaluation, we initiated a conversation 29 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: with our friends in the Internet National Coalition, and it 30 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: was honest and included more discussions on various levels, and 31 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: was culminated with my visit to Washington, d c. And 32 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: talking to President Biden. We formed the Joint Committee in 33 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: August of twenty twenty three between military commanders to start 34 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: the conversation, and in fact, the committee reached an understanding 35 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: to arrange for that withdrawal. It was hoped that the 36 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: conclusion would be announced, but out of our keenness not 37 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: to mix things or create a misunderstanding about the end 38 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: of the coalition's mission, the desire was to postpone the 39 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: announcement and we hope to announce it soon and we 40 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: will take part in an international conference for the Coalition 41 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: against dish or terrorism. And Iraq is a genuine member 42 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: that lead the ranks to face terrorism. Ending the coalition's 43 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: mission and this is an important point, does not mean 44 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: a breakdown between Iraq and the coalition countries including the 45 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: United States. On the contrary, at the same time, we 46 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: are in bilateral talks to build a sustainable security relationship 47 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: other than the economic, cultural, and scientific and social ties. 48 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 2: You say that ISIS is less of a threat, and 49 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: yet on Friday, since common ounts that a raid was 50 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: conducted in western Iraq, US military alongside Iraqi security officials 51 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: killed some senior ISIS commanders. That tells me that the 52 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: ISIS threat is still there. 53 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: No, no, of course, this was one of the quality 54 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: operations that was executed between security agencies and the international coalition. 55 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: This is proof daesh or. This is proof that the 56 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: security agencies have reached the phase of capability where they 57 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: started finding these people in caves in mountains, in deserted 58 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: areas and killed them. This is proof of the level 59 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: of ability and capability that our security forces have reached. 60 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: Dyash today doesn't own a land or an area to 61 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: be in and has lost its incubator. And this is 62 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: the fundamental win achieved. Following up on the cells of 63 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: these individuals doesn't mean that there is a real threat. 64 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: When we used to talk about Dyash, Dyash used to 65 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: hold areas, villages and cities, and today Dash doesn't have 66 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,679 Speaker 1: this existence except for these isolated groupings in deserted areas. 67 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: There's a US presidential election coming up very soon. What 68 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: would you like to see out of the next US president, 69 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: be it President Harris or President Trump. 70 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 3: Riki. 71 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: Of course, we respect the choice of the American people 72 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: according to the democratic process. We will deal with any 73 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: administration that gains confidence. It's of interest to us to 74 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: activate strategic framework that was signed in two thousand and 75 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: eight and building of relationship based on these principles of 76 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: mutual interests and respecting Iraqi sovereignty. 77 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 2: President Trump has been historically very hawkish on Iran. Do 78 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: you worry that a return of President Trump could be 79 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: even more destabilizing for the region. 80 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:24,799 Speaker 1: For our understanding of the situation of the relationship between 81 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: Iraq and Iran is based on mutual interests and mutual respect. 82 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Iran is a neighboring country and we share one four 83 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: hundred kilometers and that's in our interest to have a 84 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: close relationship, especially that Iran has been supportive of the 85 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: political process and our efforts in combating terrorism. Of course, 86 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: Iraq is the only country in the region that has 87 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: a special relationship between Iran and the United States, and 88 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: we try through this positive characteristic to help in bringing 89 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: opinions closer. And we are interested to have stability in 90 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: the region away from the access policy. We don't want 91 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: the tense relationships and the stances of other countries of 92 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: the world to impact the Iraqi situation. This is our 93 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: diplomatic effort and movements in terms of our bilateral and 94 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: regional ties. 95 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 2: Now for more from my exclusive interview with Iraq's Prime Minister, 96 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: Mohamashia al Sudani. The Prime Minister told me his country 97 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 2: is fully committed to opek's decisions, despite not adhering to 98 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: quote us during our conversation. He also discussed Iraq resuming 99 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: oil exports via a pipeline to the Turkish port is 100 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: Shayan more than a year after its closure. 101 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 3: Muhimaf ob Obuku plas. 102 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: Iraq is an important country in OPEK and OPEK Plus, 103 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: and we coordinate with our brothers, especially our brothers in 104 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are committed to voluntary 105 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: cuts and there war issues that the brothers understood in 106 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: terms of the slight increase in production and the rock 107 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: committed to compensating for that, and we began in August 108 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: of this year. We are committed to the decisions of 109 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: OPEC and OPEC Plus in a way that protects the 110 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: price of oil and this balance between the interest of 111 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: the producers and consumers. 112 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 3: Almost you. 113 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: Say that you will start introducing compensations, Where is that 114 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: going to come from? 115 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: But a helpful intelligent we started reducing the domestic production 116 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: and reducing the exports in a clear way in the 117 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: oil market. 118 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: Can you talk to me about the future of the 119 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: pipeline from Kurdistan. It's been shut off for several months now. 120 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: You've talked about the possibility of the resumption of gas 121 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: going through that pipeline. Can you give us a timeline 122 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: on it, and also again what that would do to 123 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: your own role production. Given what we were just talking about. 124 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: Via the vis vid Opek. 125 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 3: Quotas, Muskimas and Google Turkey. 126 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: Let's understand the problem with the Iraqi Turkish oil pipeline. 127 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: The export stopped from Sahan after the decision from the 128 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: International Court in Paris over a lawsuit filed by the 129 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: former Iraqi governments over exporting oil without somo's approval. And 130 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: then we faced another problem, and that's a legal issue, 131 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: and they were decisions by the Federal Court regarding oil 132 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: contracts in Kurdistan Region and the budget law that fixed 133 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: the average cost of producing a barrel that doesn't surpass 134 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: eight dollars for every barrel, whereas fixed production cost in 135 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: the oil contracts of oil companies with Kurdistan Region is 136 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: over twenty six dollars. We are now in front enough 137 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: two options only. We either amend the contracts, which is 138 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: what the company is dealing with the Kurdistan Region had rejected, 139 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: or we amend the budget law and this requires political agreement. 140 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: Iraq is keen to resolve this problem. We are missing 141 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: the production capacity from this strategic important line and we 142 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: are keen on investing in existing oil and the work 143 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: of the companies. There are ongoing talks with the companies 144 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: and with brothers in the Kurdistan Region and we hope 145 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: to reach a solution based on the legal paths that 146 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: I mentioned. 147 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 2: Could it happen this year? 148 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 1: Possible? Possible. 149 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 3: That was my 150 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 2: Exclusive interview with the Iraqi Pane Ministermashya Al Sudani.