The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources, is currently on a significant diplomatic mission to Baghdad and Erbil. This visit is a follow-up to discussions initiated during the visits of Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to Washington earlier this year.

These high-level engagements mark a new phase in the Biden administration’s Middle East policy. Initially focused on reviving the 2015 Iranian nuclear accord, the administration has shifted its strategy towards containing Iran, recognizing its alliance with Russia and its destabilizing influence in the region.

The State Department emphasized that Pyatt’s visit aims to address critical energy issues and strengthen Iraq’s energy independence. A key discussion point is the resumption of Iraq’s oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP), crucial for offsetting decreased Russian oil exports to Europe.

Pyatt commenced his trip with a stop in Jordan on Wednesday before meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski. A significant objective during Sudani’s Washington visit was reducing Iraq’s energy dependence on Iran. U.S. officials highlighted Iraq's economic losses due to its reliance on imported Iranian gas and the wasteful flaring of its own gas.

In Baghdad, Pyatt is set to meet with companies and government officials to enhance natural gas utilization and reduce methane venting and flaring. Following these discussions, Pyatt will travel to Erbil to explore ways to attract foreign investment and support Iraq’s clean energy transition. He will engage with senior leaders in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) to discuss the role of IKR’s natural gas resources in achieving energy autonomy.

Pyatt’s mission underscores a broader U.S. strategy to support Iraq’s energy sector and facilitate the country’s transition to clean energy. The visit is part of an ongoing U.S. effort to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Last week, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, also visited Baghdad, Erbil, and Lalish. She emphasized the full implementation of the 2020 Sinjar Agreement, aligning with the KRG’s longstanding advocacy.

The increased U.S. involvement in Iraqi affairs, especially in addressing energy concerns, reflects a commitment to fostering stability and economic growth in the region. Pyatt’s discussions on resuming oil exports through the ITP and promoting energy efficiency are pivotal steps towards reducing Iraq’s dependence on Iranian energy supplies and enhancing its economic resilience.