Iran has granted special permits allowing several Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Saturday, easing a key Iraqi demand after commercial shipping through the waterway largely halted following tanker attacks.
The concession followed repeated requests from Baghdad through multiple channels and was a central demand raised during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's visit to Iraq this week. Iraqi President Nisar Amedi confirmed Saturday that Iran had facilitated the passage of Iraqi oil vessels in recent days.
The exemption is critical for Iraq as it aims to raise oil output to between 8 and 10 million barrels per day within six years, up from roughly 4 million before the February war. Baghdad is also pursuing expanded exports via Turkey's Ceyhan port and planned routes through Syria and Jordan.