Reuters: Iraq’s oil exports have not been affected by political turmoil

Three sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Iraq’s oil exports have not been affected by the current political turmoil.

Baghdad is witnessing the worst fighting in years, with clashes between rival Shi’ite groups entering their second day.

Two sources confirmed that supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a former leader of an uprising against US forces, have besieged the Majnoon oil field in Basra since Monday, as well as the Basra refinery, which produces 210,000 barrels of oil per day.

But one of the sources stated that the protesters are expected to withdraw from these areas within a short period after Al-Sadr asked his supporters to withdraw from the violent clashes.