Kathmandu— Iran has granted passage through the Strait of Hormuz to a number of Iraqi oil tankers following repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state media reported Saturday. The move comes after discussions during a visit by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to Iraq this week and addresses a key concern for Baghdad, which relies on the strait for crucial oil exports. Iraqi President Nizar Amidi affirmed that his country will not allow its territory to be used for attacks against other nations, emphasizing regional stability.

Iraqi Concerns Over Strait Access

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below pre-war levels and ships continue to face attacks in the area, impacting Iraq’s oil exports. Before the recent conflict, Iraq produced approximately 4 million barrels of oil per day. Baghdad is actively seeking alternative export routes, including expanding capacity at Turkiye’s Ceyhan port and establishing new pathways through Syria’s Baniyas port and Jordan’s Aqaba port, as stated by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Assurances on Iraqi Territory

During a speech at the Baghdad Dialogue policy conference, President Amidi reiterated Iraq's commitment to regional security. He stated that attacks originating from within Iraqi territory against other countries “have no justification” and emphasized the importance of preventing Iraq from being drawn into wider conflict, noting the harsh repercussions already felt by his country. Amidi also highlighted the global significance of the Strait of Hormuz, stating it “affects the whole world, not only Iraq.”

Iran’s Rationale for Permission

Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Tehran, suggested Iran's decision to allow Iraqi tankers through the strait is linked to Baghdad’s consistent stance against the United States. According to Khoshcheshm, Iran views Iraq as a “friendly state” and intends to differentiate its treatment of Iraq from Gulf states that host US military bases used in attacks against Iran – accusations those regional countries deny. He added that Iran has requested other nations to similarly prevent the use of their territory by the United States.

Negotiations between Baghdad and Tehran regarding “complex problems” in the Strait of Hormuz are ongoing, with both sides expressing a desire for continued dialogue and stability in the region.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.