Iran Grants Special Permission for Iraqi Oil Tankers to Navigate Strait of Hormuz

Iraqi President Nizar Amidi announced on Saturday that Iran has authorized several Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz following persistent requests from Baghdad amid ongoing regional disruptions to the vital waterway.

Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference, Mr Amidi emphasized that Iraq remains disproportionately vulnerable to the fallout of the conflict due to its heavy reliance on oil exports and deep economic ties with Iran. “There is facilitation for some tankers carrying Iraqi oil in the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Amidi stated, omitting further specifics.

Meanwhile, Iran's state news agency, IRNA, confirmed that Tehran permitted multiple Iraqi oil tankers to traverse the route following repeated diplomatic appeals from Baghdad. IRNA noted that securing this special exemption was a primary objective during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf's recent diplomatic mission to Iraq.

Highlighting logistical hurdles, Mr Amidi pointed out that Iraq struggles with transport constraints due to a lack of a domestic fleet. “We have a problem transporting oil due to the absence of a national tanker,” he noted, stressing that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz carry global ramifications.

Reiterating Baghdad's commitment to neutrality, Mr Amidi stated that Iraq aims to avoid the wider war between Iran and the US, cautioning that further escalation would severely impact the domestic economy. On domestic security matters, he affirmed that Iraq will prohibit the use of its territory for launching attacks against neighboring nations, calling such acts unjustified. Furthermore, Mr Amidi reaffirmed Baghdad's target to consolidate all weaponry under state oversight by the September 30 deadline, despite ongoing resistance from certain Iran-backed factions.