Iran Allows Select Iraqi Oil Tankers to Pass Through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, following repeated requests from Baghdad, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA on Saturday. The move came after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s recent visit to Iraq, during which securing tanker access was among Iraq’s key requests.

Iraq Confirms Progress on Oil Exports

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi said Iran had facilitated passage for vessels carrying Iraqi oil in recent days, with Baghdad continuing discussions with Iranian officials on broader export arrangements through Hormuz. Speaking at the Baghdad Dialogue policy conference, Amedi acknowledged that the overall situation remains complicated despite this development.

Iraq Seeks Alternative Export Routes

Iraq has been among the countries most affected by reduced traffic through Hormuz, where shipping remains well below pre-war levels and vessels continue facing security risks. The country previously produced around 4 million barrels of oil daily before the conflict began. In response, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Baghdad is working to expand exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, along with new routes via Syria’s Baniyas port and Jordan’s Aqaba port.