Baghdad: The Syrian interim government confirmed on Thursday that it has not negotiated with Iraq or Saudi Arabia to import oil from them, while denying discussions with Baghdad regarding the oil pipeline that has extended between them for years.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Washington-based Energy Platform quoted Ahmed Suleiman, the director of public relations at the Syrian Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, as saying, “There are currently no negotiations with Iraq or Saudi Arabia to import oil from them. The ministry imports crude oil through tenders to obtain the best options, to ensure reliable supplies and within the contractual terms.”

He stressed that “the Iraqi-Syrian pipeline needs rehabilitation, and this issue has not yet been addressed,” noting that “the Iraqi and Syrian sides have not discussed activating the joint pipeline, and that it is not of interest to the two countries at the present time.”