In recent years, the Kurds have antagonized Iraq‘s Shi‘ite led central government by signing deals on their own terms with international oil companies including Exxon Mobil, Total and Chevron Corp.

Baghdad saying it alone has the right to control exploration and export of the world‘s fourth largest oil reserves, while the Kurds insist their right to do so is enshrined in Iraq‘s federal constitution, drawn up following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.