Quarrels, deals, and coups

1918 Break-up of Ottoman empire saw Britain and other countries squabbling for share of Iraq's oil

1919 Britain, which ran Iraq as mandate, initially refused to allow US oil companies access. The US made securing reliable energy sources a key foreign policy aim

1928 Deal reached on Iraqi oil, with the US granted 24%, and 24% shares going to BP, Shell, and Compagnie Française Pëtrole

1932-58 Iraq independent in 1932 and republic in 1958. Outside oil interests said to be behind a number of coups

1974 Iraq nationalises oil industry. BP expelled

1979 Saddam Hussein takes power. Wars against Iran and Kuwait partly driven by desire for more oilfields

1991-2003 Companies from more than dozen nations have either reached or sought deals to explore or develop Iraq oilfields