Iran has granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests from Baghdad, according to Iranian state media.
The decision comes as the strategic waterway remains heavily disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Iraq has been particularly affected because much of its oil exports normally pass through the strait.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that permission for Iraqi tankers was among Baghdad’s main requests during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit to Iraq this week .Iraqi President Nizar Amidi confirmed that Iran had recently facilitated the passage of some vessels carrying Iraqi oil. He said Baghdad had also been discussing the country’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian officials.
Speaking at the Baghdad Dialogue policy conference on Saturday, Amidi stressed that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks against other countries. He said attacks launched from Iraqi territory against countries in the region had no justification, adding that Iraq was determined to avoid being drawn further into the conflict.“
Everyone is keen to prevent Iraq from being dragged into the ongoing war in the region,” Amidi said, noting that the conflict had already had serious consequences for his country. The Iraqi president also described the Strait of Hormuz as an issue affecting the entire world, rather than Iraq alone. He said Baghdad remained in discussions with Tehran over the difficult issues surrounding the waterway.
The strait has become a major flashpoint in the conflict because it is one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments. Traffic through the waterway remains far below pre-war levels, while ships in the area continue to face security threats. Iran has also been negotiating with Oman over possible arrangements for reopening the strait. However, no final agreement has been reached.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran said the situation remained uncertain, particularly because Iran has linked the reopening of the waterway to the continuing US naval blockade. The decision to allow some Iraqi vessels through appears to give Baghdad limited relief while the wider dispute over the strait continues.
Iraq produced about four million barrels of oil per day before the war began. With exports through Hormuz disrupted, Baghdad has been looking for alternative routes to maintain oil shipments. Iraqi authorities are working to expand exports through Turkiye’s Ceyhan port while also exploring routes through Syria’s Baniyas port and Jordan’s Aqaba port.
For Iraq, keeping its oil exports moving is increasingly important as the conflict continues to disrupt one of the region’s most critical trade routes.
