Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan sign energy deal

Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government and Iran have signed an agreement that will allow Tehran to send 3 to 4 million liters of refined fuel oil in exchange for crude, a Kurdish official said. Iran signed an agreement with Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) for oil and natural gas on Sunday, the Daily Sabah reported. Abdullah Akrayi, the KRG official responsible for Iran affairs, told journalists that a delegation led by former Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi made the deal with the regional government's Energy Minister Ashti Hawrami. The agreement proposes the construction of two pipelines between the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq and Iran, and the regional government would receive between 3 and 4 million liters of refined oil fuel and natural gas in return for sending crude oil to Iran. Iran and the Iraqi Kurdistan region have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.