The United States is reportedly supporting the Iraq-Syria oil pipeline project in order to weaken Iran's influence.

The United States is advancing negotiations on an oil pipeline that will transport oil from Iraq to Syria, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, thus weakening Iran's future influence on global energy supply. According to sources, the US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq issues, Thomas Barrack, has convened officials from both countries and companies such as Chevron to discuss the restarting of a long-unused pipeline from Iraq to the west coast of Syria. Sources say that while various new routes are being considered, the focus of the discussions is on rebuilding the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline that has been closed for over 20 years. A US State Department official confirmed that the US government supports efforts by Iraq and Syria to strengthen trade routes by repairing pipelines between the two countries, and expects US companies to play a role in their construction. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi at the White House and announced that a "huge" new oil partnership will be declared later this week or next week.