ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources Muthanna al-Tamimi said Wednesday that an agreement signed with the Turkish side involves the export of 30,000 barrels of oil in exchange for the implementation of water-related projects, as Baghdad ramps up efforts to counter the ongoing water crisis.

“The agreement with Turkey includes exporting 30,000 barrels of oil in exchange for implementation. Various projects, including water-related projects,” the minister stated, according to Iraqi state media.

He added that the projects “will improve irrigation in several provinces,” and “deliver water to the southern provinces and encourage farmers,” amid ongoing coordination with Ankara regarding their implementation.

Iraq has historically struggled with water shortages, with authorities routinely blaming upstream countries for withholding water through dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.

Ankara has been blamed in particular for the crisis, with around 90 percent of Iraq’s water sources originating from the neighboring country. Earlier this year, the environment ministry called for international pressure on Turkey to increase water flows.

“The wave of rain at the beginning of the spring season in 2026 saved the water situation in Iraq.”

In August, Tamimi said that understandings had been reached with Turkey and Syria to increase water releases.

Iraq and Turkey in November signed an agreement to address Iraq’s worsening water crisis, which had been exacerbated by upstream dams constructed by Ankara along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The United Nations has ranked Iraq among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, while authorities have warned that water reserves have fallen to dangerous levels, making conservation and careful management essential.

Following his appointment as water resources minister in May, Tamimi stressed that his ministry will develop relations with upstream Turkey and Iran to secure water releases into Iraq.