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MEOG POLICY MEOG
Iran, Russia and Turkey seek
to undermine Syrian oil deal
SYRIA ON August 26, Iran, Russia and Turkey said it “condemn[ed] in the strongest terms
denounced a recent deal between Syrian Dem- the agreement signed between al-Qasd militia
ocratic Forces (SDF) and a US firm to develop (SDF) and an American oil company to steal
oilfields in north-east Syria, reaffirming their Syria’s oil under the sponsorship and support of
commitment to Syrian sovereignty. the American administration … This agreement
The three countries are part of the Astana is null and void and has no legal basis.”
Syrian peace talks, which do not include the US. Turkey’s involvement in the latest statement is
A joint statement was released in which Tehran, unsurprising. In early August, its Foreign Min-
Moscow and Ankara “expressed their opposi- istry accused Delta Crescent of “financing ter-
tion to the illegal seizure and transfer of Syria’s rorism” by entering a deal with the SDF, which
oil revenues […while condemning] the illegal mostly comprises the Syrian-Kurdish militia
oil deal between a US licensed company and the force YPG, which Turkey considers to be a terror
illegitimate entity as part of its separatist agenda.” group because of its links to the outlawed Kurd-
The oil deal, which was signed in early istan Workers’ Party (PKK).
August, received backing from the US, which In a statement on August 3, Turkey’s For-
supports the SDF, and the signatory, Delta Cres- eign Ministry said: “We deeply regret the US
cent Energy, received a sanctions waiver from support for this step, disregarding international
the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign law, violating the territorial integrity, unity and
Asset Control (OFAC). Senior Washington offi- sovereignty of Syria. This act, which cannot
cials have confirmed that a deal was signed to be justifi ed by any legitimate motive, is utterly
“modernise” oilfields under its control. unacceptable.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time It added: “With this step, the PKK/YPG ter-
supporter of the Syrian Kurds, told Congress rorist organisation has clearly demonstrated its
last week that he had spoken to SDF com- ambition to advance its separatist agenda by
mander General Mazloum Abdi about the deal, seizing the natural resources of the Syrian peo-
AFP reported. Graham told Politico: “I think ple. Th e natural resources of Syria belong to the
this company’s going to improve the viability of Syrian people.”
the northern oilfields to make them more pro- Meanwhile, various regional media outlets
ductive … Conceptually it makes sense that we have said that Iran, Russia and Turkey are co-or-
should, instead of just writing cheques, help peo- dinating efforts to undermine the SDF in eastern
ple help themselves.” Syria through a combination of putting pressure
Syria’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on US forces along the Euphrates while Turkey
that described the deal as illegal and said that its cuts off water to areas under SDF control and
intention was to steal Syrian crude. The ministry Russian patrols harass US troops.
Week 35 02•September•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P7
