The US pushes to restart the Iraq-Syria oil pipeline, opening a new route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

Golden Ten Data reported on July 12 that, according to Middle East Eye, the United States is cooperating with Iraq and Syria to advance a plan to renovate an old oil pipeline connecting Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq, with Baniyas on the Syrian Mediterranean coast. This would allow Iraq to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for crude oil exports. The media outlet, citing Iraqi and other regional officials, said that an agreement to restore the pipeline—which is approximately 800 kilometers long—is expected to be announced when Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidi visits the White House next week to meet with Trump. The pipeline has been out of operation for decades and is currently severely damaged. The report cited a senior official as saying that the pipeline will likely require a complete rebuild, and the project is expected to take two to three years. A group of American companies have already been recruited to participate in the project.