Iraq has dismissed reports suggesting it is considering leaving OPEC, insisting it remains committed to the producers’ alliance while continuing to seek a higher production quota that better reflects its expanding oil capacity.
In a statement, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said recent speculation about a possible withdrawal from OPEC did not represent the government’s official position, adding that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi had never proposed exiting the organisation.
Baghdad reiterated that its objective is to secure a reassessment of production baselines through OPEC and the OPEC+ framework, arguing that member quotas should reflect sustainable production capacity. The ministry noted that a review of members’ maximum sustainable output is already underway with the support of an independent international consultant, with Iraq participating in the process.
The statement came in response to a Reuters report citing sources that Iraq had been weighing several options, including a potential departure from OPEC, if its production allocation was not increased substantially.
While rejecting those claims, Iraqi officials reaffirmed their ambition to raise the country’s production ceiling as investment in upstream projects continues. Baghdad has also welcomed OPEC+’s gradual reversal of voluntary output cuts, saying the move should help support a higher production quota over time.
A founding member of OPEC and its second-largest producer, Iraq aims to increase crude output to around 7 million barrels per day over the coming years, arguing that higher quotas are justified by expanding production capacity and long-term investment in the country’s oil sector.
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