Oil and Gas: Turkey tells Iraq not to involve Kurds in oil deals

Turkey has told Iraq not to involve the Kurdish administration in northern Iraq in oil business between the two countries.

Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization had previously asked Turkish companies to seek permission from the Iraqi Kurdish government when doing deals with Iraq's oil-rich north.

State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, said Turkey would only deal "with the central Iraqi government" and not with Iraqi Kurdish authorities, adding that he has sent Iraqi authorities a "strong letter," outlining his country's position.