Foreign energy firms continue operations normally in Iraq
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Iraq confirms foreign energy operations remain unaffected amid evacuation claims and travel warnings for Americans.
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Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (center left) meets by videoconference with representatives of OPEC member countries on May 28, 2025 (Iraqi Oil Ministry)
Foreign energy companies in Iraq are continuing normal operations despite rising regional tensions, a senior Iraqi official said Thursday.
The comment comes just one day after US President Donald Trump announced a repositioning of American personnel in the Middle East, citing growing instability and the risk of escalation.
“The Iraqi oil ministry has not received any notifications from operating companies regarding staff reductions,” the official told Reuters.
The source, who oversees activity in Iraq’s southern oilfields, emphasized that field operations remained stable and uninterrupted as of Thursday morning.
Trump's statement, in which he described the Middle East as potentially “a dangerous place,” sparked speculation over whether heightened security threats could impact foreign business activity in Iraq.
His remarks followed recent reports that the US government was preparing to evacuate its embassy in Baghdad in response to security concerns.
No disruption to oilfields as US signals wider withdrawal
In related news, on Thursday, the US Embassy in Baghdad issued a travel advisory urging American citizens to avoid travel to Iraq, citing elevated risk tied to broader regional tensions.
The advisory came just hours after US President Trump’s announcement and amid ongoing instability stemming from stalled nuclear negotiations with Iran. Despite these security alerts, Iraq’s Oil Ministry asserted that foreign-operated facilities remain unaffected.
According to a recent Associated Press report, the Department of State has officially ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel from the US Embassy in Baghdad, as well as the voluntary withdrawal of dependents and nonessential staff from locations in Bahrain and Kuwait.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized similar voluntary removals of military dependents across the Middle East region, reflecting heightened concern over escalating US–Iran tensions.
Another recent AP report noted that the US is providing logistical support for possible evacuations and preparing military assets to assist if needed.
Despite this strategic drawdown, Iraqi official channels continue to report no disruptions in operational activity at southern Iraqi oilfields, and operators say they have received no directives to scale back or evacuate.
