Legal expert Iyad al-Tamimi said on Saturday that Iraq’s Constitution considers oil and gas resources to be the property of the Iraqi people and that any arrangement involving foreign companies must comply with constitutional and legal requirements.
In a legal interpretation, al-Tamimi explained that the Iraqi Constitution treats oil and gas as national resources and places their management under the framework of Iraqi law. He stressed that any agreement involving foreign companies should be reviewed carefully to ensure it does not conflict with constitutional provisions or undermine national sovereignty over natural resources.
According to al-Tamimi, agreements that grant foreign entities rights beyond what is permitted under Iraqi law require legal scrutiny to confirm their legality and compatibility with the Constitution. He emphasized the importance of protecting national resources and ensuring that all contracts are consistent with Iraq’s legal framework.
His comments come amid growing debate over the role of foreign companies in Iraq’s energy sector. Some analysts and observers have expressed concerns about foreign firms acquiring stakes in projects linked to oil, gas, and other energy-related activities, arguing that such arrangements should be examined carefully due to the strategic importance of the sector.
Supporters of foreign investment argue that international partnerships can bring capital, technology, and expertise needed to develop Iraq’s energy infrastructure. Critics, however, maintain that any involvement by foreign companies must be structured in a way that protects Iraq’s ownership rights and decision-making authority over its natural resources.
The discussion highlights the continuing balance Iraq faces between attracting international investment and maintaining control over one of the country’s most important economic sectors. As investment proposals and energy projects move forward, legal and constitutional considerations are expected to remain at the center of public and political debate.
Al-Tamimi’s remarks underscore the importance of ensuring that all agreements related to Iraq’s natural resources are subject to legal review and comply with the Constitution, which defines oil and gas as assets belonging to the Iraqi people.
