Home Business Iraq oil minister says deal with Exxon close, slowed by evacuation Business Iraq oil minister says deal with Exxon close, slowed by evacuation By Genpie - May 19, 2019 159 0 Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest WhatsApp A major oil deal between Iraq and Exxon Mobil was “very close” but had been slowed by Exxon’s decision on Saturday to evacuate its international staff from the West Qurna oil field, Iraq’s Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban said on Sunday.