The Kurdish region of northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) remains committed to building a pipeline to transport oil to Iran, according to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

“It is a policy of the KRG to have a pipeline with Iran,” he said in an interview with MEED, without giving further details on the project.

Talabani’s comments come after a series of meetings between Iran and the KRG, where potential pipelines were discussed, including talks in May 2014.

The pipelines discussed by Erbil and Tehran have included a scheme to build a pipline to the Gulf.

Another option that has been discussed is a pipeline that will transport crude to Iranian refineries in the western city of Kermanshah and transport refined products from the refineries back to Iraqi Kurdistan.

At the moment, the KRG can only export oil by road or using a pipeline through Turkey.

Over 2015, Iraqi Kurdistan has significantly increased exports. In September, the KRG’s crude exports averaged 600,463 barrels a day (b/d), according to the Ministry for Natural Resources, which was 27 per cent higher than the figure exported the previous month.