Iraqi ships allowed to transit through Strait of Hormuz without restrictions

Iran Announces Exemption for Iraqi Ships in Strait of Hormuz

In a statement released on Saturday, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced that ships from Iraq will be exempt from restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump reiterated his demands for Tehran to make a deal or relinquish control of the strait.

According to the statement, Iraqi ships are free to pass through the strait without any restrictions, with controls only applying to “enemy countries”. Iran’s military command expressed respect for Iraq’s national sovereignty and acknowledged the country’s struggle against the US. The statement rejected Trump’s demand, calling his threat a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.

The Strait of Hormuz has been subject to restrictions since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February 2023. Maritime traffic has increased slightly in recent weeks under a de facto toll booth system imposed by Tehran, but it remains down more than 90% from normal levels.

The collapse of shipping in the waterway has had significant impacts on global energy markets, with fuel prices rising and authorities in many countries implementing emergency energy conservation measures. Iraq’s oil production has been particularly affected, with production falling to 1.2 million barrels a day due to declining crude shortage capacity.

Iraq was previously the world’s sixth-biggest oil producer, accounting for 4% of global supply, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The exemption announced by Iran is expected to have implications for Iraq’s oil exports and the global energy market.

Source: Al Jazeera