Iran Allows Select Iraqi Oil Tankers To Transit Strait Of Hormuz After Requests From Baghdad

Iran has granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to navigate the Strait of Hormuz following several diplomatic requests from Baghdad.

The request was also made during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s recent visit to Iraq.

Speaking at the Baghdad Dialogue policy conference, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi confirmed that Tehran has facilitated crude shipments through the strategic waterway in recent days.

However, he cautioned that security through the Strait remains complicated due to attacks and ship traffic remaining below pre-war levels.

Before the regional hostilities, Iraq produced approximately 4 million barrels of oil per day, relying heavily on Gulf maritime routes.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated on Friday that Baghdad is moving to expand export channels through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, while working to establish routes via Syria’s Baniyas port and Jordan’s Aqaba port.

However, realising these alternative bypass routes presents logistical and political hurdles, including a resolution of legal and tariff disputes with Baghdad, Ankara, and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The Syrian and Jordanian trade corridors need major capital investments and repairs to damaged pipelines.

Oil sales account for over 90% of Iraq’s state revenues; the export bottleneck has forced Baghdad to reallocate budget resources toward emergency domestic energy infrastructure to protect against economic shocks.

Tehran’s selective exemptions are intentional to maintain its hold on the Strait of Hormuz while strategically easing economic pressure on allies like Iraq.

However, high war-risk insurance premiums and ongoing threats mean shipping costs remain high.

Securing stable, diversified export outlets is important for Iraq, particularly as Baghdad wants to raise total output to 8–10 million barrels per day in the coming years.