On April 16, the federal Council of Ministers froze budget transfers to the KRG after Erbil failed to live up to its obligations under the 2019 federal budget law that passed in January 2019, in particular its refusal to send oil to Baghdad for export.

In December, the federal government and the KRG agreed to a deal where Erbil would start sending 250,000 barrels of oil per day as required under the law and would receive 12.67 percent of the federal budget in return. The deal was never implemented.

“The livelihoods of the people should not be used as a pressure point and mixed with political issues,” Adil said during a press conference.

“We suggest that Iraq implements the Iraqi Oil and Gas law that was issued in 2017 to solve the problem between us,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, a KRG delegation met with Kurdish members of the Council of Representatives to discuss the dispute.

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