The Iraqi Oil Ministry denied on Thursday that Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak discussed operations by Russian oil companies in Iraq’s Kurdistan region with the Iraqi prime minister or oil minister during his trip to Iraq. In its statement, the ministry said: “At a time when the oil ministry welcomes all international oil companies to invest and work in Iraq, it also affirms that oil is a sovereign resource, and therefore all contracts should be signed with the federal government and the oil ministry.” The statement added: “Anything contrary to that means these entities are liable for all the consequences, legal and financial responsibilities, and damages resulting from that.” In a tweet for Novak on Wednesday, he declared that the government of Iraq had no objections regarding operations by Russian oil companies in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.