Baghdad: Energy expert Dirgham Muhammad Ali confirmed that the Russian company Lukoil's declaration of force majeure and suspension of its operations in Iraq will not affect Iraq's oil exports. In a statement to the Iraqi National News Agency (NINA), Muhammad Ali said, "National efforts are capable of managing the operation of extraction and export, in addition to the export flexibility available from the remaining fields should field operations cease, which is not currently a possibility."

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Muhammad Ali highlighted that several alternatives will be available should Lukoil decide to withdraw from Iraq due to the US sanctions imposed on it. He mentioned that major companies, including American firms, are ready to purchase Lukoil's stake. He further explained that Iraq possesses export flexibility from its oil fields to cover any production shortfall in any field due to OPEC+ restrictions that forced Iraq to reduce its output.

US sanctions had targeted the assets of major Russian companies, including Lukoil, which operates in the West Qurna 2 field, creating uncertainty about the company's future operations in Iraq.