ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Tuesday met separately with the heads of US energy giants ExxonMobil and HKN Energy in New York, where they discussed exploring and developing Iraq’s oil fields.

The Iraqi premier arrived in New York on Monday for the high-level General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, marking his second trip to the US since taking office. He is set to deliver Iraq’s remarks at the event.

On the sidelines of the event, Zaidi met with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, discussing “exploration and the development of producing fields, with a view to increasing production and the optimal use of Iraq’s oil resources,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

The two previously met in Houston in July where they discussed enhancing Iraq’s refineries and reducing its reliance on imported gas.

Zaidi separately met with HKN Energy Chairman Ross Perot, another US-based energy company with substantial investments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The Iraqi prime minister called on the company to “redouble its efforts, accelerate the pace of work, and increase working hours on its projects and contractual commitments in Iraq, particularly those related to increasing oil production.”

“The government will work to overcome obstacles and address problems that could delay project implementation and the fulfillment of companies’ contractual commitment,” the statement added.

Zaidi also mentioned the country’s commitment to hold the Baghdad Energy conference where new exploration blocks are set to be announced.

In May 2025, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani presided over the signing of two major agreements in the energy sector between the Kurdistan Region’s natural resources ministry and HKN Energy and WesternZagros in Washington, DC.

The deals hold a combined value of $110 billion and aim to boost the Kurdistan Region’s energy sector.