Iran-Iraq-Syria Pipeline : Friendship Pipeline, Regional instability and shifting alliances

DD Geopolitics
@DD_Geopolitics
The ongoing turmoil in Syria is intertwined with two competing pipeline projects that have been central to shaping alliances and hostilities in the Middle East:

Iran-Iraq-Syria Pipeline (Friendship Pipeline)

Proposed Route: From Iran’s South Pars/North Dome field, through Iraq, into Syria, and extending to the Mediterranean for export to Europe.

Strategic Goals:

Bypass Gulf states and Türkiye, giving Iran a direct energy route to Europe.

Strengthen the Iran-Iraq-Syria axis, reinforcing Iran’s influence.

Backers: Iran, Iraq, and Syria, with potential Russian involvement.

Status and Challenges:

Dormant since Syria’s civil war escalated.
U.S. sanctions on Iran and Syria impede financing and international support.
Syria’s ongoing instability leaves the route vulnerable to conflict.

Qatar-Türkiye Pipeline
Proposed Route: From Qatar’s share of the South Pars/North Dome field via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria (or Iraq), reaching Türkiye and Europe.

Strategic Goals:
Offer Europe a non-Russian/non-Iranian energy source.
Consolidate Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dominance in global energy markets.
Elevate Türkiye’s role as an energy transit hub, increasing its geopolitical leverage.
Backers: Qatar, Türkiye, Western-aligned interests, including the U.S. and EU.

Status and Challenges:
Assad’s government rejected the pipeline in 2009, aligning with Iran’s project instead.
Regional instability and shifting alliances have diminished momentum.

A Battleground for Pipeline Politics

The Syrian civil war has magnified the strategic importance of these pipelines. In 2009, Assad’s rejection of the Qatar-Türkiye pipeline in favor of Iran’s project spurred regional opposition, with Gulf states and Türkiye backing rebel factions. This set the stage for Syria to become a proxy battleground, with external powers vying for influence.

Why This Matters:
The Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline strengthens the “Axis of Resistance” against U.S. and Gulf state dominance, while the Qatar-Türkiye project aligns with Western goals to isolate Iran and secure alternative energy supplies for Europe.
Both pipelines symbolize competing visions of regional power: Iran’s desire for self-sufficiency versus Qatar’s alliance with U.S.-led blocs.