The Iran war, Kurdish forces and Turkey-Iraq rapprochement with Lahib Higel

Lahib Higel, interim deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa program at the International Crisis Group, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss the Iran war.Higel recently co-authored a report on Turkey-Iraq rapprochement titled “Strengthening Iraq-Türkiye Ties amid Regional Tensions.” In this podcast, she juxtaposes the main trend lines from the report against the ongoing regional conflict, highlighting areas to watch in the coming weeks and months.Also covered are discussions about the possible reopening of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to export Iraqi oil through Turkey—a move that would circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.Additionally, the pair take deep dives into Iran-Turkey power competition in Iraq, the prospects of a Kurdish ground incursion into Iran and how the war might impact the Turkey-PKK peace process.Referenced in this talk:Submit a question for our Q&A with this formA Sprawling Middle East War Explodes (Crisis Group)Rivals within: How Iran and Turkey compete inside Iraq’s fractured politics (Chatham House)Iraq plans pipeline revamp for direct Kirkuk oil exports to Turkey, minister says (Reuters)How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran? (Atlantic Council)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe