Iraq’s President Abdullatif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani have both filed appeals contesting a decision by the Federal Supreme Court that nullified the bilateral Khor Abdullah agreement—a key maritime accord with Kuwait. This agreement, which regulates navigation in the strategic waterway linking the two nations, was struck down by the court in September 2023 as unconstitutional.

President Rashid, according to sources quoted by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), personally requested the appeal and emphasized that the agreement aligns with established international laws and conventions, reinforcing Iraq’s constitutional commitment to the principles of “good neighborliness” and non-interference in neighboring countries' internal affairs.

He further highlighted that restoring the agreement is vital for maintaining regional cooperation, particularly in sensitive maritime zones. His stance reflects Iraq's interest in building trust and sustaining stable diplomatic ties with Kuwait, a Gulf Arab neighbor.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani also submitted an appeal, pointing to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which underscores the sanctity of international agreements and prohibits nations from invoking domestic legal provisions to evade treaty obligations. He argued that the Supreme Court’s verdict directly contradicts Iraq’s constitutional requirement to comply with international norms concerning state relations.

Al-Sudani stressed that the Khor Abdullah accord does not entail border demarcation, a sensitive issue in regional geopolitics, but rather focuses solely on regulating maritime navigation, making it a practical and diplomatic necessity.

In September 2023, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court annulled the Khor Abdullah agreement, triggering strong reactions from Kuwait, which described the ruling as being based on “historical fallacies.” The court’s decision reignited tensions between the two Gulf nations, although both leaderships are now demonstrating a shared intent to resolve the issue through legal and diplomatic channels.

Kuwait has maintained that the agreement, signed in 2013, is rooted in mutual consent and aimed solely at maritime cooperation. Kuwait also views the court ruling as a step backward in Iraq-Kuwait relations, particularly after years of effort to mend ties post the 1990 Iraqi invasion.

Restoring the Khor Abdullah agreement is seen as crucial not only for Iraq-Kuwait maritime navigation but also for broader Gulf regional stability. The legal and diplomatic efforts by Iraq’s top leadership reflect a desire to uphold international obligations and safeguard bilateral cooperation amid rising geopolitical complexities in the Middle East.