As the oil-rich nation of Iraq is beginning to see US pullout from its soil, it is preparing to strike energy partnerships with Iran and Russia, close in the heels of Iraq’s 3 billion dollar oil exploration deal signed with China last year. During his recent visit to Moscow Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki invited Russia to get involved in Iraq’s massive energy resources. Iran is also exploring energy tie-ups with Iraq. On the agenda are an Iranian plan to import around 2, 00, 000 barrels of oil each day from Iraq and a pipeline to carry the oil from Basra in Iraq to Abadan in Iran.