Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi has instructed the Federal Commission of Integrity to pursue corruption cases at the Ministry of Oil and said the government will take a series of measures to increase oil revenues.
Al-Zaidi made the remarks on Sunday during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Baghdad, his second since the government was formed five months ago, his media office said in a statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
He did not say what the measures would be. He said Iraq is among the countries affected by events in the region.
Al-Zaidi said the corruption cases had led to inaction and the loss of numerous opportunities to develop the oil sector.
The deputy prime minister for energy affairs will oversee the ministry’s operations, including production and exports, according to the statement.
Al-Zaidi chaired a meeting with senior ministry staff attended by the deputy prime minister for energy affairs, the ministers of oil and electricity and several energy advisers.
He called for continued work to meet planned targets for expanding Iraq’s oil production capacity.
Iraq’s oil revenues fell 53% year on year in the first seven months of 2026, according to Finance Ministry accounts, Shafaq News reported.
Iraq relies heavily on crude exports to fund public spending. Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli war with Iran has cut into those exports.
Seven OPEC+ producers, including Iraq, agreed on October 4 to keep their September production targets for November.
Al-Zaidi launched an anti-corruption campaign in June that led to the arrest of senior officials and lawmakers, The New Region reported.
His financial adviser has outlined plans to raise non-oil revenues to about 45% of total public revenues over the next 10 years, from less than 10% now, the outlet said.
