Iraq’s oil minister on Sunday blasted ExxonMobil for evacuating its foreign staff from the West Qurna 1 field, saying all international oil companies working in the country have a secure environment. The American oil major’s decision “has absolutely nothing to do with the security situation in the southern oil fields or any threats,” Thamir al-Ghadhban said in a statement. “It is mainly due to political tensions sweeping the region and the withdrawal is unacceptable nor justified.” ExxonMobil withdrew its 30 foreign staff from the large field, Iraqi state-run Basra Oil Company said Saturday, following a US State Department warning about security risks from Iran-backed paramilitary groups and ordered departure of all non-emergency employees from the US embassy in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil. The withdrawal comes amid rising regional tensions between the US and […]