The story: Iraq’s oil export dynamics are facing a major potential shift. An arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has resulted in the closure of a critical pipeline to Turkey. The shutdown has temporarily halted all shipments from Iraqi Kurdistan. The disruption has profound implications for Erbil's ability to manage independent exports and gives Baghdad more leverage in its bid to take control over energy operations across the country.

The coverage: Iraq filed an arbitration case against Turkey in 2014, alleging that Ankara had violated a 1973 agreement governing the Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline (ITP) by facilitating independent exports from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

• The Paris-based ICC ruled in Iraq’s favor on Mar. 23 and ordered Turkey to pay 1.4B USD in penalties. The decision had been...