Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deposits Lists of Baseline Coordinates of the Republic of Iraq with the United Nations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq has deposited the lists of coordinates of the Iraqi territorial sea baselines and maritime zones in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

The deposit was made on 19 January and 9 February 2026 with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. It includes lists of geographical coordinates of specified points accompanied by an illustrative chart, pursuant to paragraph (2) of Article (16), paragraph (2) of Article (75), and paragraph (2) of Article (84) of the Convention.

The Ministry clarifies that the deposit includes the determination of straight baselines and baselines drawn along the low-water line for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea, as well as the delimitation of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf of the Republic of Iraq, in accordance with the internationally recognized World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that this deposit replaces the previous deposits dated 7 December 2021 and 15 April 2011. It comes within the framework of updating Iraq’s maritime data in line with the provisions of international law and enhances the legal clarity of the boundaries of maritime zones subject to Iraq’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.

The Ministry further notes that the lists of coordinates and the illustrative chart have been published on the official website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, making them accessible to Member States and relevant stakeholders.

The Ministry reiterates the full commitment of the Republic of Iraq to the provisions of international law and its keenness to regulate its maritime rights in accordance with the established legal frameworks, thereby contributing to stability and cooperation in the region.